RMJI Immortal Realm

"Ha ha, good kid, you're actually hiding so deeply, even Shao Ying isn't your match!"

Just then, a loud laughter resonated from within the blood array.

"Lord E is joking, I just used some underhanded tactics that can't be spoken of, compared to Lord E, it doesn't amount to anything." Han Li lifted his head to look, laughing as he slowly walked towards the sculpture beneath Chen Yang.

The remaining four people in the array were almost unable to support themselves, all of them slumped and sitting, seemingly without the energy to even lift their heads to take a glance, looking like they would soon lose their lives within the array.

On the other hand, E Mei's aura had reached an unprecedented peak, with over a thousand acupoints on his body already unlocked. If he were to continue absorbing the power of the great array, it wouldn't be a problem for him to break through all the acupoints on his body.

"Brother Li's Machiavellian tactics, to be honest, I, E, really admire. Now, I can choose to forgive your killing of Shao Ying, and give you another opportunity, what do you think?" E Mei gazed at the approaching Han Li, asking with a smile.

"I didn't expect the Lord to be so magnanimous, I, Li, am eager to hear the details." Han Li extended a finger, lightly tapping on the layer of blood-colored light screen, asking indifferently.

"As long as you take action to kill those two eyesores, you can join the Xuan Castle with Shi Kong, and become one of the most powerful elders in the castle. Of course, if you don't want to stay in Xuan Castle, you can choose to be the castle master of one of the four other castles - Qing Yang, Xuan Zhi, Bai Yan, or Tong Yu - as long as you agree to abide by my summons at all times." E Mei said seriously.

"Buddy Li, how can you believe this person's nonsense at this point? Morning City's Lord is a perfect example!" Xuan Yuan's face changed, shouting loudly.

Du Tong heard these words, and instinctively clenched his fists.

Han Li turned around to glance at the two of them, sighed, and slowly said:

"It's a pity that Lord E has made such a comprehensive plan for me, so that I wouldn't have to get rid of Shi Kong as well. Unfortunately, I'm not a person with the Accumulated Scale Realm like the rest of you, if I were, I wouldn't have been able to refuse this offer."

"Oh, is that so? Too bad, then all you can do is patiently wait for this blood array to complete its rotation, and then we can have a good exchange." E Mei's face remained unchanged, saying indifferently.

"Lord E is so busy, I see no need to wait any longer. I'll just come and visit you now." Han Li chuckled and said.

"Ha ha, Brother Li is indeed an impatient one! If you want to come in, I naturally welcome you, but I wonder if you have the capability to do so?" E Mei seemed to have heard the most ridiculous joke, laughing loudly.

"Do I have the capability or not, I'll leave it for Lord E to see." Han Li remained calm and collected, saying casually.

After that, he pinched his hands into a hand seal, and a series of obscure chanting sounds came from his mouth, as he raised his palm and struck the sculpture in front of him with great force.

A layer of snow-white light enveloped his palm, pressing onto the blood-colored light screen, which unexpectedly sank into it.

E Mei was about to say something else, but upon seeing this, his eyebrows furrowed in surprise.

However, when Han Li's palm touched the sculpture beneath Chen Yang, the blood-colored light screen suddenly erupted with a burst of bloody light, and 'Boom' resonated, as it bounced back.

E Mei's eyes narrowed slightly as he saw this, and his smile grew thicker.

Shi Chong Kung and the others had previously attempted to break the light screen, so when they saw Han Li fail, they weren't too surprised.

Han Li seemed to be unfazed, taking a deep breath as he moved to the sculpture beneath Sun Tu, repeating the same actions, chanting the incantation, and striking the blood-colored light screen once again.

The results were naturally the same, and he was only able to touch the sculpture before being bounced back by an invisible force.

His eyes flashed as he moved to the sculpture beneath Qin Yuan, striking the light screen once more.

"A mere cultivator with over two hundred acupoints, thinking of breaking the Blood Tears Barrier through brute force? You're not even a match for a madman's fantasy, no matter how many times you try, it's all useless." E Mei shook his head, saying disdainfully.

After that, he stopped watching Han Li, and instead closed his eyes, accelerating his absorption of the power of the blood and flesh within the great Blood Tears Array, displaying an air of tranquility.

Chen Yang and the others felt their bodies surge with an increased flow of power, and they let out a painful scream, though unfortunately, their voices weren't particularly loud due to their weakness.

Han Li ignored the strange looks from the onlookers, as after striking the sculpture beneath Fu Jian, he moved to the sculpture beneath E Mei's position, and struck again.

Only to see his two hundred and fifty acupoints erupting with light, his palm seeming to grasp a blazing sun, as it heavily chopped down towards the bloody barrier.

The moment his palm made contact with the blood-colored sculpture, a previously unseen, hidden symbol emerged from beneath the five sculptures.

Immediately after, a 'Hum' sound resonated, as the blood-colored light screen trembled violently, its surface rippling like a lake surface blown by the wind.

E Mei sensed that something was amiss, and suddenly opened his eyes, only to see a scene that left him incredulous.

Han Li pinched his hand seal, took a step forward, and unexpectedly, as if he had passed through a layer of water-screen light, directly entered the Blood Tears Great Array.

"How is that possible?" Everyone was shocked by what they saw.

Han Li smiled, his body leaping high into the air, as he stood at the very top of the light screen, higher than the five people on the sculptures by over a dozen feet, suspended in mid-air without falling. "Worthy of being the Cry of Blood Array, indeed a world-class masterpiece. This vast and boundless power, just being in its midst, is enough to make one marvel...” Han Li deeply inhaled the air, sincerely praising.

"Impossible, being in the Blood Array, not using the Cry of Blood Chart as a basis, you would be directly used as a sacrifice... how is this possible?" E Chu's face was full of incredulity as he exclaimed.

"Lord E, are you referring to this?" Han Li asked with a smile.

As he spoke, the hand seals on his hands changed, and he drew a circle with his fingers. Immediately, a blood glow condensed under his feet, forming a five-pointed star pattern, identical to the one on the statues beneath E Chu and the others.

"Boom"

At that moment, a loud thud was heard from the blood-colored light screen below.

When Han Li looked down, he saw that Duan Tong, eager to save his master, had attempted to enter the Cry of Blood Array like Han Li. However, he was met with a massive counterforce and was bounced back, flying away.

Everyone present frowned, and even Zhu Zi Qing couldn't help but cover her mouth to stifle a laugh.

The people trapped in the blood cocoons, including Sun Tu, seemed to have caught a glimmer of hope, struggling to lift their heads and look towards Han Li. A glimmer of excitement flashed in their eyes.

Morning Sun, still struggling, managed to lift his head and gaze at Han Li's figure. Then, he looked up towards the sky outside, his expression complicated and difficult to decipher.

"Lord E, Li has arrived to pay his respects... I wonder if you're prepared," Han Li said, smiling.

His expression suddenly turned serious, and he rapidly changed his hand seals, accompanied by a rushed chanting sound.

A moment later, he let out a loud roar: "Bring it to me!"

A dull, muffled sound erupted from the depths of the array.

The five statues shook violently, with a string of new talismans appearing on their surfaces. The array's operation suddenly stagnated, as if it were about to stop.

However, the thick, sticky blood light from the blood pool below immediately began to surge upwards, madly pouring into the blood cocoon that Qi Jian had transformed into. It then passed through layer after layer of purification before entering E Chu's body.

E Chu's face revealed an unusual expression, and he seemed momentarily bewildered. Just then, the pure blood light that had entered his body astonishingly passed through his body once more, shooting towards Han Li and merging into his body in an instant.

"Gasp..."

Han Li let out a soft cry, and his entire body was enveloped in a blood glow. It was as if numerous fine blood threads had wrapped around him, forming a massive blood cocoon.

His body had once again become the endpoint of the array's blood light circulation.

As the powerful force surged into his body, Han Li's face contorted in agony, with intense, stabbing pains spreading through his meridians, making his teeth feel like they were about to shatter.

He had thought that the blood meat power, which had been filtered and purified by the previous individuals, would not be overly violent. However, the truth was that even his own body, which had opened over two hundred acupoints, was still somewhat too weak to endure.

Fortunately, Han Li was quite adept at enduring pain and could withstand it.

The blood cocoon on his body began to reveal over a thousand white light points, some of which were real and others illusory.

"How is this possible? How can you control the Cry of Blood Array? What kind of person are you?" E Chu's face was filled with incredulous shock as he asked.

Han Li completely ignored him, his eyes widening as he let out a triumphant, long howl.

He immediately closed his eyes and began to circulate the Tian Xia town prisoner skill, crazily integrating the blood meat power surging into his body to attack the acupoints that had yet to be opened.

"Boom" "Boom" "Boom"

In just a short span of ten-odd breaths, he successfully opened three acupoints in his chest, a speed that even surpassed E Chu's by threefold.

"What's going on...?" Liuxiang Fu's expression turned increasingly solemn as she muttered to herself.

Zhu Zi Yuan and the others were even more baffled, filled with shock and doubt.

"Brother... how is this possible? Could this human be related to the Grand Ruins?" Zhu Zi Qing whispered.

Shi Chuan Kong's expression was also complicated, and he couldn't fathom how Han Li had managed to rival E Chu in the blood array.

"No matter who you are, if you want to compete with me, let's see if you have the skills," E Chu said, his face darkening as he calmed down.

He suddenly pinched a hand seal and pointed at his own brow. A strange, crimson symbol appeared on his forehead, and the blood light surrounding his body immediately intensified, beginning to cut off the blood meat power flowing out of his body.

Han Li sensed that the blood meat power flowing into his body had suddenly decreased, and he turned to look at E Chu, smiling: "To find the root cause, that's the correct way. You're just misusing it, and you think you can rival me?"

"Good, good! Er Mou has seen it today, a mere human cultivator with over two hundred acupoints, if you were outside the array, I would have killed you with a single finger, now you dare to be so arrogant in front of me! Er Mou will take a look, how you can live up to your reputation!"

Upon hearing this, Er Weng suddenly burst out laughing.

He then repeated the hand seal, violently pressing down on his brow, and several strange symbol marks appeared on his brow, similar to the ones before. The blood energy around him surged like a wave, and the flesh and blood energy that had flowed out of his body began to return.

Han Li, however, ignored Er Weng and stepped forward in a steady pace, continuously gesturing the hand seals as he danced within the "Blood Cocoon".

Suddenly, a white light emerged from above the "Blood Cocoon", and the cocoon's surface began to crack, splitting open like a blooming flower, transforming into a nine-layered "Blood Lotus".

Han Li clapped his hands in a seal, and sat down cross-legged as the "Blood Lotus" below him bloomed, radiating a deep red light and unleashing an extremely powerful attractive force.

The flesh and blood energy that Er Weng had previously intercepted and was absorbing, suddenly surged out of his body once more, transforming into a dragon-like shape, and violently pounced towards Han Li, plunging into the nine-layered "Blood Lotus".

Han Li's eyes widened as he let out a deafening roar, the veins on his forehead bulging like earthworms as he obtained the doubled power, but the pain he endured also intensified several times.

The top of the "Blood Lotus" beneath him lit up with countless dense bloody lights, resembling numerous sharp blood knives, piercing into his body and injecting the energy of the refined power into his body.

A series of explosions sounded out, as seven or eight more acupoints on Han Li's body lit up.

Er Weng's expression changed, and he finally realized the situation was more severe than he had imagined.

At this moment, not only was the flesh and blood energy within the entire Large Array flowing towards Han Li through his body, but the power that Er Weng had accumulated within himself was also showing signs of being drained.

A flash of furious anger crossed Er Weng's eyes, his hand seal changed, and two gashes appeared on his palms, blood flowing out, dyeing his entire hand red.

Using his blood-stained hands, he pressed down on the five-pointed star below him, quickly reciting an incantation.

The five-pointed star radiated intense light, unleashing a powerful attractive force that intercepted the flesh and blood energy flowing into Han Li's body, as he and Han Li engaged in a tug-of-war.

"You, Er City Master, are quite formidable outside the array, I must say you're the strongest Xian cultivator I've seen, but don't you still not see the situation clearly? This Large Array I am more familiar with, in the array, you are no match for me," Han Li sneered, taking a deep breath, as his hand seal changed once again.

The nine-layered "Blood Lotus" beneath him surfaced with strange symbol marks, the attractive force emanating from it surged several times.

With a loud crash, the blood light on the five-pointed star beneath Er Weng shattered.

He could no longer resist Han Li, and could only watch as the powers he had coveted for years flowed towards Han Li.

Soft crackling sounds accompanied the white virtual light on Er Weng's body extinguishing, one by one.

In just a short span of ten breaths, only over a thousand of his fully materialized acupoints remained.

The flesh and blood energy that Er Weng had thought he had fully absorbed also began to drain away.

Judging from the current situation, it wouldn't take long before he would also become like Sun Tu and the others, a mere filter for the Blood Array's energy to aid Han Li.

Er Weng hesitated for a long time before gritting his teeth, his hand seal changing as he struck the top of the statue below him.

"Don't be in a hurry to leave, Er City Master, I still need you to stay in the array for a bit," Han Li sneered, his hands rapidly moving in a seal as he pointed towards the void.

Suddenly, a massive amount of blood light erupted from the five-pointed star beneath Er Weng, a seven-petaled "Blood Lotus" burst out, resembling an exotic beast about to devour him.

Er Weng's eyes solidified, he stopped gesturing the hand seal, and instead raised his fist, smashing it onto the five-pointed star below him.

The dense acupoints on his arm lit up one after another, a layer of white stellar light enveloped it, exuding a wave of powerful energy fluctuations.

A deafening boom erupted.

Er Weng's fist smashed onto the "Blood Lotus", the statue beneath him violently shaking, surprisingly not collapsing, as the dazzling white light and the piercing bloody light simultaneously exploded.

A frenzied gale rushed out, colliding with the inner wall of the Blood-Colored Luminous Screen, shaking the entire Large Array.

Outside the array, the crowd on the altar couldn't help but gasp in unison as they watched the scene unfold.

Han Li, suspended in mid-air, was also destabilized by the immense force, and quickly gestured the hand seal to stabilize the entire Large Array. Chapter:

Just then, E Shi had already activated his incantation again, striking the beast statue beneath him.

The beast statue behind him burst forth with two wings, from which two white lights shot out, splitting apart and tearing open a hole in the blood-red light screen that was only large enough for one person to pass through.

The opening looked unstable, and it started to close as soon as it appeared. E Shi, however, had already flashed forward, crossing through the opening and escaping outside the blood-red light screen.

Moreover, as he exited the formation, he stretched out his hands with a fierce cry, and two white bone chains shot out from his sleeves, instantly piercing the blood cocoon containing Sun Tu and Chen Yang.

The two, who had long since lost their strength to resist, felt a searing pain in their shoulders. The bones had pierced through, and they were pulled out from the blood cocoon by E Shi's sudden tug, flying towards the entrance that was about to close.

Han Li was about to intervene, but he discovered that the blood dragon-like red glow, which had lost its buffer of the three cultivators, was now rushing towards him after passing Qin Yuan and Fu Jian.

The moment the red glow surged into the Nine-Layered Blood Lotus within Han Li, he felt as if someone had punched him in the chest, causing his heart to throb heavily.

Immediately, a power that far surpassed the previous one began to clash wildly in his limbs, causing pain and pressure that threatened to overwhelm him. While the previous power had been like hacking with a blade, this new power was like being pierced by a thousand swords, and Han Li could feel himself losing control at any moment.

Han Li hurriedly calmed his mind, activated his incantation, and attempted to suppress this power.

On the other side, E Shi, who had managed to pull Chen Yang and Sun Tu out of the Blood-Tears Boundary at the last moment, threw them onto the ground. They lay there like two slumping masses of mud, motionless.

The faces of Shi Chuang Kong and the others turned serious, yet none of them dared to approach.

"A mere cultivator with less than three hundred acupoints, you'll see how long you can last without the three of them to share the power of the Blood Array?" E Shi looked at Han Li with a cold smile, not even sparing a glance at the others. "Once you explode and die, your body will become a part of the blood array, and I'll absorb it back into my body. Don't you find that a bit ironic?"

Han Li's eyes had turned blood-red, and his ears felt as if they were being bombarded with thunder. He couldn't even hear E Shi's voice.

With all his strength, Han Li urged the Starlight force in his body to stabilize the Blood-Tears Boundary, which finally calmed down. However, the crazily violent power within the blood array, now that it was no longer being filtered by the three cultivators, was far beyond what Han Li's current body could handle.

At this moment, Han Li's body was making strange noises, and more than ten acupoints in his chest had been pierced through. However, it was strange that the white light emanating from these newly opened acupoints contained a faint, crimson glow.

His body began to swell, and not only did his limbs and torso double in size, but even his skull was expanding rapidly, as if it was about to burst open.

Han Li's brain felt like it was going to explode from the pain, and if not for his exceptionally strong soul, he would have already lost his grip on his sanity.

Yet, it was precisely because he still maintained a shred of clear awareness that he knew his time was almost up. He wouldn't be able to hold on for more than ten breaths, and after a few more moments, his body would rupture.

Han Li wondered if his Nascent Soul could survive and hide in the small bottle.

Not far away, Shi Chuang Kong's face turned ugly, his eyes still fixed intently on Han Li. Liu Xiu Ning had a complex expression, seemingly lost in thought.

Zhu Zijin, however, seemed unwilling to watch Han Li's body explode, so he slightly turned his head away.

"Hah! Overconfident brat, go to your death!" E Shi burst into loud laughter, his voice ringing out.

Yet, just as everyone was expecting the bloody scene to unfold, Han Li's swollen body began to shrink, slowly returning to its normal state.

Han Li clutched his head, letting out a mournful howl as if he were suffering greatly. However, his eyes had regained some of their clarity. Only he knew that, at this moment, the black, bottle-like artifact in his abdomen was unleashing its power, absorbing the frenzied energy that had entered his body like a bottomless void.

The artifact refused none of this power, no matter how much it was fed.

Han Li's current agonized state was merely an act, a ruse to deceive everyone else. Most of the Blood Array's power had been absorbed into the artifact, and he was only allowing a small portion of it to pass into his body.

"How is this possible...? This is impossible... You can't last that long..." E Shi, his face filled with shock and doubt, bellowed in rage.

Not only was he shocked, but even Shi Chuang Kong, who had been preparing to flee, was caught off guard by this sudden turn of events.

"What's going on? Does that kid have some hidden trick?" Liu Xiu Ning exclaimed in surprise.

"Brother, what's happening?" Zhu Zijin asked in confusion.

Zhu Yuanting's brow furrowed, and he shook his head, his gaze shifting to E Shi.

Just then, E Shi vanished from his original position, only to reappear behind Qin Yuan's statue.

"Let's see how long you can last without those two to stabilize the array," E Shi sneered, his lips curling into a cold smile.

E Shi finished speaking, and his joints emitted a strange, crackling sound. His body suddenly expanded several feet, and a hand emerged from his sleeve, similar to Han Li's earlier action. The palm of his hand pressed against the blood-colored glow, creating a dent that struck the stone beast statue.

The moment his palm touched the statue, his five fingers suddenly arched and stabbed through the blood-colored light screen, pressing against the scaled beast statue.

As he began to chant rapidly, his fingers twisted, causing the statue to vibrate violently. The blood-red glow on its body dimmed significantly.

A faint "puff" sound was heard, and the blood cocoon surrounding Qin Yuan suddenly burst open.

E Shi pinched his hand into a seal, while his other hand manipulated the air within the blood formation, summoning a blood-colored aura that condensed into a massive, blood-colored hand. The hand abruptly extended towards Qin Yuan and seized him.

Han Li, witnessing this, was about to intervene, but he felt a sudden jolt in his heart and rapidly gazed upwards.

E Shi also reacted, looking up towards the sky.

The rooftop, once shrouded in a yellow cloud sea, had opened up to reveal a dazzling, silver light cascading down like a waterfall.

A deafening, electrical buzzing resounded from the high altitude, as if a sea of silver lightning had been poured down upon the great hall.

A thunderous roar shook the air, and the liquid lightning suddenly solidified, transforming into a massive, silver lightning pillar that plunged directly downwards, striking E Shi with unerring accuracy.

The lightning pillar crackled with electricity, releasing thick electrical threads accompanied by a deafening, dragon-like roar, displaying unimaginable power.

Han Li swiftly manipulated his formation and retreated several dozen feet.

E Shi's eyes flashed with surprise, but without hesitation, he flung Qin Yuan upwards, directly into the path of the lightning pillar.

A thunderous explosion boomed through the air, and Qin Yuan's body disintegrated into nothing but gray ash, his Nascent Soul unable to escape.

The silver electrical discharge ignited, expanding into a blinding, white light that illuminated the entire hall, forcing everyone to cover their eyes.

No one noticed Chen Yang, still motionless on the ground, slowly extracting a black, circular mirror the size of a palm and manipulating it with his blood-stained hands. His lips trembled, releasing faint whispers.

Simultaneously, a ring of white light materialized around E Shi's body.

The dissipated electrical energy recondensed, forming another lightning pillar that hurtled towards E Shi, its power seemingly undiminished.

E Shi's expression turned somber, and he retreated several dozen feet, abandoning his pursuit of Han Li.

Just as the lightning pillar was about to miss its target, it changed direction, pursuing E Shi with unrelenting ferocity.

E Shi dodged the attack, but the lightning pillar persistently pursued him, twisting and turning to keep up.

A furious E Shi suddenly spotted Chen Yang's black mirror and inferred its connection to the mysterious lightning. He swiftly retrieved a white, circular mirror from his sleeve, differing only in color and shape from Chen Yang's black mirror.

With a battle cry, E Shi flung his white mirror towards the prostrate Chen Yang.

The mirror crashed to the ground, rolled a few times, and came to rest beside Chen Yang. The surface flashed with white light, and an arc of light rebounded, striking E Shi, no matter how he tried to evade.

Chen Yang smiled coldly, his eyes glinting with amusement, as he weakly lifted his head to observe the scene.

"You have worn the Yin-Yang Mirror for many years, and it has absorbed your aura. There's no escape..."

E Shi's rage intensified, but he could not focus on retaliating, for the relentless lightning pillar pursued him with growing ferocity.

Zhu Zi Yuan and others were baffled by the mysterious lightning, unsure of its origin, yet witnessing its awe-inspiring power.

Others whispered among themselves, urging the lightning on: "Faster, faster..."

After several evasive maneuvers, E Shi realized that the lightning showed no signs of weakening. Resolute determination flashed in his eyes.

Landing in front of the three stone arches, E Shi halted, his body glowing with an intense, protective energy. Over a thousand acupuncture points on his body lit up, unleashing a shield of blazing white energy.

With a thunderous battle cry, E Shi faced the incoming lightning pillar, raising his fist to confront it.

A deafening boom shook the air... A brilliant silver flash suddenly erupted, transforming into a spherical bolt of lightning that enveloped Yueshan's entire body.

The surrounding air was fiercely turbulent with silver electrical currents, causing the space to severely fluctuate and spawn visible cracks that constantly opened and closed.

The blood-colored screen trembled violently, nearly ripped apart, but fortunately, the large array absorbed the blood and flesh energy as nourishment, preventing it from collapsing.

Han Li's heart shook with shock. He looked up at the sky once more, where a sea of yellow clouds reappeared with a black hole still swirling within, making it impossible to determine if more lightning would strike.

His eyes focused, and he immediately accelerated the array's operation, doubling the absorption of the Naihexin Array's blood and flesh energy. Mentally prepared, he was also ready to retreat at any moment.

After several dozen breaths, the massive spherical lightning finally dissipated.

All silver electrical threads gradually disappeared, and Yueshan's silhouette, shrouded within, reappeared.

Still standing upright, his entire body's vital points glimmered unpredictably like starry night skies. However, his right arm, where the lightning had made direct contact, had turned into black charcoal, with black ash continuously falling off.

"Ahhh..."

Yueshan exhaled a long breath, and white smoke burst from his mouth.

His right shoulder violently shook, and the entire arm crumbled into black ashes.

However, a burst of white light soon erupted from the severed arm's stump, covering the wound, and in the blink of an eye, flesh and bone regenerated, fully restoring his arm.

...

Yueshan's cheek was crimson, and the radiant vital points on his body flickered and vanished, revealing his physique.

His body was also a deep red, with bulging veins, resembling numerous green snakes coiled around his body, an extremely frightening sight.

"Linggong Technique!" Han Li's face moved within the Blood Array.

In the next moment, Yueshan's crimson color instantly faded, and his face turned deathly pale. His footsteps also became unsteady.

Not only that, but all his vital points simultaneously sprayed blood, then quickly dulled down. He couldn't help but spit out a mouthful of blood.

Although Yueshan had timely employed the Linggong Technique to counter the lightning, the shocking lightning bolt had actually shaken all his vital points.

"City Lord!" Zhu Ziyuan and Zhu Ziqing rushed over, supporting Yueshan, their faces filled with worry.

Yueshan ignored them, gazing upwards.

"E Daoyou, it's been a while. How have you been?"

At this moment, accompanied by a sweet, chuckling voice, seven silhouettes leaped out from the rooftop, the first being Shaxin in a white dress, her slender figure exuding elegance.

The mysterious woman in the black dress and veil also appeared, standing closely behind Shaxin.

The remaining five people were Zhuoge, Wu Yun, the sturdy giant, and two bald, black-armored men.

Yueshan's eyes narrowed, seemingly unsurprised by Shaxin's group's arrival. He pushed Zhu Ziyuan and Zhu Ziqing aside, stabilizing his body.

Sun Tu and others, witnessing the appearance of Shaxin's group, were shocked.

Within the Blood Array, Han Li saw Shaxin's group, and his eyes flashed with alarm. His gaze rested on the mysterious black-dressed woman for a moment, only to quickly move away. Han Li's face continued to show pain as he frantically accelerated the green vial's absorption of the blood and flesh energy from below.

Shaxin's group landed on the ground, their faces changing upon seeing Yueshan and the massive Blood Array within the hall.

The mysterious black-dressed woman gazed at the wretched Han Li within the Blood Array, her delicate body trembling. A peculiar glow emerged in her eyes, and her lips, hidden behind the black veil, slightly parted, as if about to speak.

In that instant, several golden patterns appeared on her forehead, her eyes turning dazed. However, she immediately regained her composure. The unusual color in her eyes had vanished, replaced by tranquility.

The mysterious woman's transformation was momentary, and the surrounding crowd failed to notice. Han Li, however, had been watching her and witnessed the change. He was taken aback.

Just then, two silhouettes flashed by, joining Shaxin's group. They were Chenyang and Xuantun Xing.

Chenyang's face now displayed a radiant blood glow, indicating he had consumed a certain medicinal pill, regaining his mobility. However, his movements still seemed unstable.

"Chen Daoyou, after years of planning, we've finally succeeded! You should take the credit!" Zhuoge laughed, his face exposing excitement.

"It was just luck. I must thank Shaxin City Lord for her clever arrangements. When I first became the City Lord of Qingyang, she presented the dark lightning mirror as a gift, which I naturally treasured. As it contains dark lightning energy that benefits my cultivation, I've kept it close to my body. Everything has unfolded as planned!" Chenyang smiled.

"Xuantun, who's been hiding in Xuan City for years, also deserves congratulations. You'll be rewarded later." Zhuoge continued, addressing Xuantun Xing.

"I'm honored to serve the City Lord. I dare not ask for rewards." Xuantun Xing respectfully replied.

"Excellent! You've been collaborating for so long, setting up a plan from back then. How ingenious!" Yueshan's expression turned ugly as he listened to Chenyang's conversation, his voice cold.

Yueshan's eyes narrowed, seemingly unsurprised by Shaxin's group's appearance. He pushed Zhu Ziyuan and Zhu Ziqing aside, stabilizing his body.

As Yueshan's group fell to the ground, taking in the hall's situation, especially the colossal Blood Array and Han Li within, their faces changed in unison.

Yueshan's eyes were fixed on Shaxin's group. "Now that the truth's out, Shaxin Daoyou has been plotting with you since my ascension to City Lord. Your plan has indeed been ingenious."

"City Lord E, we are just evenly matched. You plotted against us first, and my actions were just self-defense," Chenyang said calmly, meeting E's gaze.

"Xiāo Xīn, even if you were planning to get rid of me, I'll still advise you, given our past relationship. The matter of obtaining the Holy Remains is a win-win situation. Without me, even if you find the Holy Mausoleum, you won't be able to get the Holy Remains," E said, turning his gaze to Xiāo Xīn.

"I know the truth about what happened back then. Actually, the main reason I wanted to cooperate with you and enter this Grand Tomb was to kill you," Xiāo Xīn replied with a cold smile.

E snorted in response but didn't say anything.

"How did E come out? According to what you said earlier, he should still be inside the Weeping Blood Array?" Xiāo Xīn glanced at the blood array beside her and raised an eyebrow, turning to Chenyang.

"An unexpected turn of events occurred, which I didn't anticipate either. The Grand Hall is surrounded by a barrier that prevents me from sending a message," Chenyang replied with a bitter smile, glancing at Han Li inside the blood array.

E overheard the conversation between the two, and his heart skipped a beat.

If he was still inside the array when the lightning struck, he would have been unable to defend himself effectively, and he might have been struck dead on the spot.

Luckily, Li Feiyu appeared, allowing him to exit the array.

As soon as he thought of this, E's hatred towards Han Li decreased significantly, and his mind quickly turned to thinking of a way to retreat.

"E, you have some good fortune today, but you're heavily injured. Prepare to die!" Xiāo Xīn didn't give him any chance to catch his breath, her eyes shining with a fierce killing intent as she raised her hand.

A gold-colored sphere the size of a fist flew out of her sleeve, making a cracking sound as cracks appeared on its surface. A large amount of golden light burst out from within.

The sphere quickly transformed into a golden, giant bird-shaped puppet, over ten zhang tall, resembling two golden eagles. Its broad wings spread out, also over ten zhang wide, with golden feathers on top, each one embroidered with intricate patterns that shone with a starlight glow.

The golden bird puppet looked elegant and noble, but it also gave off an extremely perilous aura.

"Golden Wing Hawk!" E's face changed drastically as he exclaimed.

Before his words had even faded, his figure suddenly sprang forward, his target clearly Xiāo Xīn.

E was severely injured, but his speed was still incredibly fast. He covered a great distance in a single flash, reappearing right in front of Xiāo Xīn.

A white longsword appeared in his hand, shining with a brilliant white sword light, its sharp tip almost instantly reaching a distance of just one foot from Xiāo Xīn.

Just as his sword was about to strike, a blurry golden shadow flashed by, and a golden wing appeared out of thin air, blocking the sword light and Xiāo Xīn.

There was a loud clang as the white sword light struck the golden wing, exploding into a burst of golden light.

The golden wing remained motionless, easily withstanding the attack.

Almost simultaneously, E's head was suddenly enveloped in a golden shadow, and another golden wing appeared out of thin air, striking down towards him like a giant golden knife with incredible speed.

The air around the wing vibrated violently, and the ground nearby cracked open, forming a deep gash.

E's pupils constricted as he swiftly dodged to the side, his other hand flashing with a white light as another longsword appeared, and he crossed his swords to slash down.

The two swords clashed, creating a massive explosion of light as the white and gold energies met and exploded.

A massive wave of gold and white energy surged out in all directions, causing the air to quiver and the ground to be scraped away.

The entire Grand Hall building shook violently, its structure creaking ominously.

E and Xiāo Xīn moved at incredible speeds, their exchanges happening in the blink of an eye, and the others could only react after the fact, hastily retreating to avoid the aftermath.

Han Li, who was inside the blood array, was also affected by the residual energy, and the array began to shake violently. He quickly cast a spell to stabilize it.

The white sword light shattered, but it also momentarily halted the golden wing's descent.

E's face turned red again as he spat out a mouthful of blood, but he had already retreated, his feet stomping the ground.

With a swift motion, he shot upwards like a black owl taking flight, aiming for a large hole in the ceiling.

E's speed was incredibly fast, and with the added momentum from the shockwave, he moved at an astonishing velocity, reaching the ceiling in an instant.

Just as he was about to exit through the hole, a golden afterimage flashed by, creating numerous residual images as it moved at a speed that surpassed even E's, instantly blocking his path.

E's body glowed with starlight as he forcibly halted his movement.

The Golden Wing Hawk's most formidable aspect is its speed. City Lord E, you won't be able to escape today. Surrender!" The Golden Wing Hawk's wings spread wide, and Xiāo Xīn stood atop it, her face twisted into a cold smile as her slender fingers moved, her fingertips radiating a faint, transparent thread.

As the bird's wings fluttered, its golden feathers glowed with an intense light, and the next moment, countless golden feathers exploded from its surface, emitting a blood-curdling shriek as they hurtled towards E like a dense, golden rain.

Each feather transformed into a blinding, golden light, leaving behind a long, glowing tail that resembled a golden meteor. E Fu's face sank, seemingly extremely wary of the golden feathers. He let out a loud battle cry, and the double swords in his hand danced swiftly.

Innumerable white sword silhouettes appeared, densely packed, hacking towards the golden feathers.

However, upon contact, the white sword silhouettes crumbled upon touching the golden feathers, instantly pierced and shattered into fragments.

Meanwhile, the golden feathers merely slowed down slightly but continued to shoot down at incredible speeds, like lightning.

E Fu's face was strained taut; the Star Acupoints around his body shone with starlight, and his body spun like a top, creating a white whirlpool of starlight around him.

Nearby star energy surged towards him wildly, and rays of starlight poured in from the large holes in the roof, merging into the whirlpool.

The whirlpool instantaneously grew several times in size, spinning rapidly and releasing waves of intense tearing forces, which also stirred up the surrounding void, causing ripples to form.

As soon as the golden feathers entered the whirlpool, they were pulled away from their original trajectory, moving involuntarily with the whirlpool and their speed significantly reduced.

E Fu's double swords left arcs of light, hacking at the incoming golden feathers, splitting and sending them flying.

However, the power contained within the golden feathers was truly terrifying, and E Fu's body would involuntarily shudder each time his swords cut through one, and he would be blown backward.

A series of intense, earth-shaking booms erupted!

In an instant, all the golden feathers had been exhausted, and E Fu's body was severely struck, crashing to the ground, and creating a large crater.

The golden feathers that had been deflected or shot into the air mostly landed on the ground, while some struck the nearby walls.

Regardless of whether it was the ground or the walls, they seemed as fragile as tofu in the face of the golden feathers imbued with immense power, easily penetrating them.

The sound was like thunder, the shockwaves like knives, creating a maelstrom of explosive air that shook the entire great hall violently, as if it was about to collapse from the intensity of the two men's battle.

Xuan City's and Gui City's other cultivators retreated even further, their eyes wide with shock.

When the two City Lords clashed, they were like insignificant ants, unable to intervene, and if they failed to dodge in time, they might be affected.

The blood array was also struck by the golden feathers, but it wasn't damaged, and continued to function.

Inside the array, Han Li's expression kept changing.

E Fu was heavily injured yet still possessed such power; looking back, taking food from him was a desperate measure but also an extremely reckless move. If Sha Xin and the others hadn't appeared suddenly, Han Li's own situation would have been quite precarious.

As he pondered, E Fu leaped out of the crater, but the starlight surrounding his body had disappeared.

He spat out another mouthful of blood, his face deathly pale, his steps stumbling, and seemingly at his wit's end.

A golden shadow flashed, and the Golden-Winged Eagle appeared above E Fu.

"I said it before; you won't be able to escape today. I'll avenge my Master's enmity today!" Sha Xin's eyes were icy cold as she moved her fingers.

The Golden-Winged Eagle flapped its wings, releasing more golden feathers in a flash, amidst a piercing shriek.

E Fu's situation seemed extremely dire, yet he showed no signs of giving up. As he prepared to respond, eight silver lights shot out from beside him, each containing a silver ball, rapidly spinning above his head.

A loud "boom" sounded!

The eight silver balls burst with silver light, unleashing a swarm of silver runes, which rapidly condensed into a silver light array.

The array enveloped the surrounding area, covering several dozen zhang, and E Fu's figure was obscured within it. The array was filled with countless silver lights, which seemed to move like the rotation of the celestial spheres, mysterious and unfathomable.

Innumerable golden feathers pierced the silver light array, causing it to shake violently, but it didn't shatter.

Sha Xin's expression changed as she gazed at the scene, her eyes focusing on the direction the silver light had come from, but she saw no one, and coldly snorted.

The Golden-Winged Eagle swooped down, radiating golden light, and flapped its wings, shooting another barrage of golden feathers at the silver array.

Its sharp talons gleamed with golden light, as if they could pierce the heavens, and struck down.

Two enormous golden claws emerged, shining with an intensity that made it hard to look directly at them, and grasped the silver array, tearing at it violently.

The array finally shattered, releasing a blast of silver light.

Two figures shot out from the silver light: one was E Fu, and the other was Liu Hua Furen.

E Fu's face looked slightly better, seemingly having used some recovery technique within the array.

However, the two didn't charge towards the holes in the roof but instead shot towards a distant wall, where over ten golden feathers were lodged, the surface cracked and broken.

They fled, leaving the scene of intense battle behind, disappearing into the distance.

"Think you can escape?"

Shixin sneered coldly, his ten fingers moving swiftly.

The Golden Winged Hawk unfolded its wings, transforming into a golden light as it pursued E Modi and Liu Huafuren, its speed astonishing, almost disappearing in the blink of an eye. It swiftly closed in, its two massive claws snapping downwards towards the two.

At this very moment, Liu Huafuren suddenly swept her sleeve to the side.

A dark light shot out from the sleeve, striking the Golden Winged Hawk head-on with a speed faster than lightning.

The dark light was actually a dense concentration of minute, countless particles, radiating a faint, eerie fluctuation.

"Taiyin yuan magnetic polar light! Where did you obtain such a thing?" Shixin exclaimed in shock, leaping backward, his hands grasping the emptiness as he forcefully yanked to the side.

The Golden Winged Hawk's body suddenly shifted to the side, narrowly avoiding the dark light.

However, with the two sides being too close and the speed too fast, the Golden Winged Hawk failed to dodge in time and was struck by the dark light.

A "Bong" echoed through the air as the dark light burst and shook open, transforming into black, ripple-like lights that clung to the Golden Winged Hawk, spreading rapidly.

The Golden Winged Hawk's lively movements suddenly stiffened, the strange grating sounds echoed from within its body as if the internal mechanisms had suffered immense blockage, unable to move despite Shixin's frantic control.

Meanwhile, Liu Huafuren and E Modi seized the opportunity to make a slight detour, narrowly avoiding the Golden Winged Hawk's strike.

The Golden Winged Hawk continued flying forward with immense speed, as though it were a bowstring bursting with unbridled energy, only to violently crash into the ground.

A massive "Boom" shook the air, causing a giant, deep crater to be excavated into the ground. Sand and dust scattered through the air.

Shixin didn't manage to avoid the impact, being dragged into the crater alongside the Golden Winged Hawk.

Liu Huafuren and E Modi, unfazed, continued flying swiftly onward.

When passing by a hidden area, E Modi's figure flickered momentarily before he plunged into the shadows.

A piercing cry ensued, swiftly cut short by an eerie silence.

E Modi emerged from the hidden area once more, but his hand grasped something - a person.

Han Li, within the blood array, directed his gaze toward the man E Modi was holding captive. The man turned out to be Shi Chongkong.

Shi's body had faint traces of blood, his eyes sealed tightly shut. His breath remained steady, suggesting that he was merely rendered unconscious.

Han Li's expression wavered at the sight of his friend.

"What's going on?" Han Li wondered, feeling perplexed. Why did E Modi bother capturing Shi Chongkong when the team was being pursued by their enemies and was desperately in need of escaping?

Without hesitation, E Modi's figure continued speeding onward like lightning until he arrived at the fractured wall.

His fist was adorned with strong white starlight, and a wave of raw energy quivered from his hand. "Sss," he growled before punching the wall, where a blast of white light solidified and smote it.

A deafening "Boom" thundered through the air.

The entire building shook violently, the wall cracked to produce a massive opening over a man's height.

Sha Xin suddenly emerged from the crater.

"You won't escape!" she exclaimed upon witnessing E Modi's escape, her expression anxious.

As she dashed forward at breathtaking speed, a burst of glowing energy radiated from her hands.

"Tck-tck!" A sharp sound echoed.

Sha Xin hurtled two silver orbs from her sleeves; these orbs separated in a split second to transform into two silver, giant birds whose momentum escalated after spreading their wings, accelerating faster than a silver streak toward E Modi and Liu Huafuren.

During their high-speed pursuit, their massive bodies erupted to unleash innumerable sharp silver needles at E Modi and Liu Huafuren.

Just before these needles would have reached their targets, E Modi hastily grasped Liu Huafuren's arm and dashed out of the opening. Their shadows quickly vanished into thin air.

Innumerable needles rained down upon the wall, leaving minute pockmarks across its surface.

While the two silver giant birds resembled the Golden Winged Hawk in shape, their imposing auras felt much weaker.

The pockmarks left on the walls were shallow and couldn't compare to the Golden Winged Hawk's intimidating, razor-sharp feathers.

However, the silver birds' speed matched their agility. Like flashes of lightning, they swiftly reduced their velocity to an abrupt halt.

A series of powerful booms shook the walls.

Although the building trembled, the giant birds repeatedly smashed into the opening without creating an escape path.

Finally, Sha Xin arrived before the heavily battered walls.

A faint, stony mask obscured her expression. She speedily danced her hands to and fro and clapped together, causing the two giant birds to shrink into glowing orbs once again.

Sha Xin caught these orbs in her hands, their clinking sounds muffled as they retreated back into her control. The chapter begins with Sha Xin turning to look at Zhuo Ge and issuing a cold order, "Xiao Zi and Kun Yu will go with me to chase after E Xi. Zhuo Ge, I'll leave this place to you, and temporarily, the control of the Golden Winged Goshawk is in your hands. Kill all of the remaining masters here."

Around the same time, Fu Jian was still trapped in the blood-colored cocoon, quietly and motionlessly hiding his presence as his energy weakened. Qin Yuan had been killed by a lightning strike, and Chen Yang had already defected to Gui City.

In the city, the remaining four masters were Han Li, Sun Tu, Duan Tong, Zhu Ziyuan, and Zhu Ziqing.

When they heard Sha Xin's words, the faces of Duan Tong, Zhu Ziyuan, and Zhu Ziqing instantly changed colors as they considered escaping. However, they dared not to move recklessly due to Sha Xin's intimidating aura.

Sun Tu on the other hand, was activating a mysterious technique that caused black lights to flash around his body, allowing him to swiftly get up.

Han Li whispered to himself, "Xiao Zi..."

Zhuo Ge indifferently cupped his hands and replied, "Yes, sir."

The black-clothed woman and the large brute of a man responded before immediately taking their positions on either side of Sha Xin's back, flanking him.

As Han Li observed Xiao Zi, Sha Xin turned around and cast a glance at Han Li, his brow furrowed slightly in suspicion. Though he was unclear about what was happening, Sha Xin chose not to investigate further and turned his attention to departing.

In Sha Xin's wake, Xiao Zi and the large man followed him out of the giant cave and disappeared into the distance.

Without any hesitation, Zhuo Ge made a hand gesture and sent six men, including Wu Yun, two bald men, Chen Yang, and Xuan Yuan, charging forward. The men promptly surrounded Sun Tu, Zhu Ziyuan, and Zhu Ziqing.

Han Li, trapped in the blood array, remained calm as his eyes followed Xiao Zi's disappearing figure. His face darkened into a scowl as his teeth clenched in anguish, he soon returned to normal and began to stimulate the blood array once more.

He chose to seal about half of the massive spiritual energy within the array and integrate it into his own body, speeding up the growth process of his "Heavenly Extinction Imprisonment Technique."

The array was now filled with a brilliant, blood-red glow. As a result of the colossal spiritual energy from the array, Han Li's body was now illuminating with a faint, blood-like radiance. Moreover, this led to a forceful breakthrough, and several of his acupuncture points were opened consecutively, accompanied by successive muffled booms.

As the blood array experienced this acute change in energy, the surrounding area, initially tranquil, was now engulfed in surging spiritual energy. Consequently, Zhuo Ge and the other members of his party couldn't help but feel an intense, impending sense of foreboding.

During the brief moment of everyone's distraction, two figures emerged from Gui City's encirclement and sprinted towards the cave entrance. These were none other than Sun Tu and Duan Tong.

Zhu Ziyuan and Zhu Ziqing saw their chance as well, swiftly transforming into silhouettes and dodging their pursuers as they escaped towards a different direction.

Zhuo Ge let out a quiet curse, feeling his momentary lapse in vigilance. He quickly dispatched Wu Yun and another bald-headed man to pursue Zhu Ziyuan and Zhu Ziqing.

"Morning Sun, Xuan Yuan, Han Li and the remaining person in the blood array are left to you."

Just as Chen Yang and Xuan Yuan went to the blood array, they heard a cold, suppressed chuckle and suddenly felt an intense pain reminiscent of a hot blade piercing their souls.

A flash of white light escaped the blood array, where they saw some chains being flung out, and an instant later, these chains disappeared into their brains.

The movement happened swiftly, akin to lightning flashing before one's eyes. Chen Yang and Xuan Yuan, being instantaneously petrified, now had empty, spaced-out expressions as they stood still.

Zhuo Ge remained oblivious to this, a considerable distance away, and his perception of the situation led him to believe Chen Yang and the others were closely examining the blood array.

"Fellow acquaintances, I'll spare your lives this one time. Let's hope you won't bother me in the future," Han Li said indistinctly from within the blood array.

As the last of his words faded away, he resumed his fervent stimulation of the blood array and his unwavering, unrelenting assault on the acupuncture points.

Meanwhile, Sun Tu and Duan Tong had fled but were soon intercepted by Zhuo Ge and his companion on the road. As the two tried to get past them, a loud boom echoed through the air.

Suddenly, a gigantic white wolf and an equally enormous silver leopard descended from above, landing before the duo and cutting off their path.

Both of these enormous magical creatures towered over ten meters high, casting long shadows that engulfed Sun Tu and Duan Tong. Their faces were twisted with unsightly expressions as a hint of desperation began to emerge in their eyes.

"I'm sorry, my two acquaintances. Although I don't hold a grudge against you, Han Li's order states that I need to take your lives, so I have no choice but to make an exception," Zhuo Ge explained.

"No, a better reason would be that we have no personal connection with you, so there's no harm in offending you."

Upon speaking, Zhuo Ge wiggled his fingers. At his fingertips, a group of gemstone strings began to sparkle.

Just as he did so, the enormous wolf beast let out a thunderous roar, exposing rows of sharp teeth and hurtling towards Sun Tu and Duan Tong.

Chapter:

Sun Tu and Duan Tong faced the White Wolf Puppet's huge, bloodthirsty maw. They quickly retreated, attempting to dodge the attack.

Unexpectedly, the giant white wolf's body, despite its massive size, was incredibly agile and quick. Duan Tong's vision blurred as a massive, grinding wheel-sized paw appeared out of thin air and swung down at him.

Duan Tong's face contorted in shock, but since he was still mid-air, he couldn't dodge. Instead, he swung his thick right arm down, summoning the power of the Stellar Void. A blinding white light beam formed and collided with the paw.

A loud cracking sound echoed as Duan Tong's invincible right arm was directly twisted and broken. Like a straw, he was blown backward and crashed to the ground, spewing blood from his mouth.

The White Wolf Puppet also stumbled backward, but quickly regained its balance. Its jaws opened wide once more, unleashing a ferocious howl at Duan Tong.

A burst of white light flashed from the puppet's mouth as its entire head shook violently, emitting a low rumble. Countless white flying needles shot out of its mouth, screaming with an otherworldly howl as they pummeled Duan Tong's body and the surrounding ground.

The needles contained massive power, causing the ground within a several-meter radius to collapse.

Duan Tong was buried, his body riddled with holes from the flying needles. He didn't even have time to scream before meeting his demise.

Sun Tu witnessed the entire scene, his face pale with fear. He turned to flee.

Just then, the bald-headed man appeared above him, riding the Silver Leopard Puppet. The puppet's massive paws swung down.

Sun Tu had just seen the White Wolf Puppet easily kill Duan Tong, and he didn't dare resist. A white glow emanated from his legs as he dodged to the side, barely avoiding the Silver Leopard Puppet's attack.

At that moment, the White Wolf Puppet's jaws opened wide once more, its mouth glowing with white energy as it unleashed another barrage of flying needles.

Sun Tu let out a low growl, and a black glow flashed in his hand. A slender black bone sword appeared, and he swung it upward to counter the flying needles.

The black sword emitted a bright black aura, transforming into a black beast that resembled a mountain cat. It opened its mouth, inhaling the flying needles.

A black glow enveloped the needles, and they vanished into thin air. The black beast dissipated, and the black sword's glow dimmed significantly.

Sun Tu flipped his palm, revealing a white crystal grain. He inserted it into a groove on the sword's hilt, and the crystal's glow flashed before disappearing. The black sword's glow immediately returned to its original state.

Zhuo Ge's eyes widened in surprise. However, his movements didn't slow, and his fingers danced with speed.

The White Wolf Puppet's four legs moved, and its massive body became a white blur as it charged toward Sun Tu. Its speed was astonishing, at least twice as fast as the Silver Leopard Puppet. The puppet's paws carried a devastating wind as they swung down.

Sun Tu didn't flinch, and a white glow emanated from his legs as he dodged the attack once more.

The White Wolf Puppet missed its mark, but its body continued forward, colliding with Sun Tu. He stumbled, barely avoiding the impact.

The puppet's body glowed with white light as it rapidly turned its head and snapped its jaws shut, its speed increasing with each passing moment.

Sun Tu stumbled backward, his footwork erratic as he dodged the attack once more.

As the master of White Rock Castle, Sun Tu's power was far superior to that of Duan Tong. Despite his injuries, he managed to evade the White Wolf Puppet's relentless attacks.

The puppet's body erupted with a furious howl as it continued its assault, unleashing a flurry of attacks with its paws, teeth, and claws.

Although it no longer had the flying needles, the White Wolf Puppet's speed continued to increase, its body becoming a white blur as it pursued Sun Tu.

The other bald-headed man simply watched from a distance, not intervening.

Zhuo Ge's "Lonely Wind Phantom Wolf" was an exceptional puppet from the Puppet City, capable of handling a wounded Sun Tu with ease. Moreover, Zhuo Ge believed that intervening would only hinder the puppet's performance.

As the White Wolf Puppet's attack speed increased, it suddenly swung its paw down.

Sun Tu attempted to dodge, but the puppet's angle and speed were too great. Just as the paw was about to strike, he let out a loud roar and swung his black sword upward.

The sword emitted a massive black glow, transforming into the mountain cat beast once more. The beast bit down on the White Wolf Puppet's paw, and it instantly dissolved into nothingness.

The black beast dissipated, returning to the sword. Just as this happened, the white wolf puppet flipped its body, and its other front paw flashed by like lightning, seemingly calculating the exact moment and angle of the leopard beast's virtual image appearing, and as the beast's image quickly retreated and vanished, the paw swiftly crossed over and grasped the front of Sun Tu's chest.

Blood suddenly burst forth!

Sun Tu was instantly sent flying, and his chest was slashed open with several long and deep wounds, with blood rapidly gushing out. His body fell to the ground with a loud thud.

Before he could get up, a sharp whistling sound cut through the air, and a short spear flew in, penetrating Sun Tu's dantian and pinning his body to the ground.

Sun Tu struggled a couple of times before completely ceasing to move.

"Duke Xiao's puppet control technique has advanced even further! It seems that in Puppet City, apart from the castle lord, no one remembers you, impressive." The bald man came over with his silver leopard puppet, laughing.

"Great Black Brother is overpraising, if we talk about puppet control technique, not even Wu Yun Duke or Kun Yu Duke are below me, and the newly-arrived young Miss Zi has exceptional talent, even the castle lord has praised her with her technique advancing these years under my personal guidance, I dare not claim to be the first." Zhuo Ge smiled lightly and said.

While speaking, he leaped off and landed beside Sun Tu's body, retrieving the short spear with one hand.

His gaze then shifted towards the black bone sword nearby, which he picked up and examined for a moment, his eyes slightly lighting up, and a hint of a smile appearing on his lips.

Zhuo Ge reached into Sun Tu's robes and searched around, pulling out several things before quickly returning to the white wolf puppet.

Great Black did not say anything, watching Zhuo Ge's actions.

Sun Tu's belongings naturally belonged to Zhuo Ge, the one who had struck him down.

The two then turned their heads towards Wu Yun and Chenyang's direction, finding them entangled in an intense battle.

Zhuo Ge's expression sank, urging the white wolf puppet to rush over, and it quickly arrived at Chenyang and Xuan Yuan Hang's location.

"Chenyang friend, why aren't you two intervening?" Zhuo Ge asked sternly.

"Huh, what's going on with these two?" Great Black followed over, muttering in puzzlement.

Zhuo Ge heard him, glancing over at Chenyang's and Xuan Yuan Hang's empty, dull expressions before leaping off the puppet.

"What's wrong with you two?" Zhuo Ge asked, shaking them.

"Looks like their spiritual souls are being restrained," Great Black observed their expressions and replied.

"It's seems so, but who did it, is it related to the blood array?" Zhuo Ge wondered aloud, suddenly looking towards Han Li and Fu Jian within the blood array.

The blood sac surrounding Han Li grew increasingly thick, making it impossible to see inside, and only faint rumbling sounds could be heard from within.

"No matter what, this blood array can't continue!" A gleam of cold determination flashed in Zhuo Ge's eyes as he hopped back on the white wolf puppet.

"Hsss!" The white wolf puppet radiated intense white light from its body as Zhuo Ge gestured, gathering the light into its front paw.

"Open!" His face turned serious as his hands moved quickly.

The white wolf puppet leaped into the air, its paw slashing downward.

Five half-moon shaped white lights appeared, rapidly expanding to several dozen zhang in size, unearthing eye-searing brilliance that no one could gaze directly at.

The white lights radiated a severe cutting momentum as they traversed the air, evoking cries from everyone watching.

Wu Yun and company, in the midst of battle, sensed the sudden activation in their surroundings, momentarily faltering before turning to gaze towards the blood array.

The five white lights approached the blood array, suddenly rushing down with extreme speed.

Right then, the blood array display fluctuated, a multitude of crimson array patterns flashing in, followed by a layer of intense crystalline bloodlight that fortified the light screen. It emitted a piercing flash of energy aimed towards the five lights.

The sound of crashing thunder boomed, echoing throughout the hall.

The red and white lights intertwined, bursting in all directions with enormous force, the throne chamber bursting into a violent quake, countless shattered stones falling and cracks in the walls deepening.

The shaking of the chamber slowly subsided, with the fading red and white lights eventually disclosing the unscathed blood array display.

Upon witnessing the scene, Zhuo Ge's face instantly fell.

"Looks like Chenyang and company's predicament is the result of someone inside's actions. Duke Xiao, I'll lend you a hand, and together we can take down this constraint!" Great Black enthusiastically called out.

"I'll join in too!"

As they spoke, Hei Da raised his hands, and the silver leopard puppet beneath him displayed a series of silver patterns on its body, radiating light and gathering energy.

"This light shield is extremely sturdy, and our two puppets aren't enough to break it," Zuogou said calmly, raising his hand to stop Hei Da and speaking in a flat tone.

"What should we do?" Hei Da asked, his eyes widening in surprise.

"Don't worry, our puppets may not be able to break this seal, but that doesn't mean others can't. Now I finally understand why the city lord left the Golden Winged Hawk puppet here," Zuogou said, turning around to look at the Golden Winged Hawk puppet on the ground, a smile spreading across his face.

Just as he was about to turn around, a cold hum sounded in his ear, and a strand of invisible spiritual energy pierced into Zuogou's mind.

Zuogou let out a mournful grunt, suddenly clutching his head with both hands.

At that moment, a crystalline light shot out of the Blood Array like a bolt of lightning, arriving instantly before Zuogou.

Inside the crystalline light, several crystal clear locks could be seen, about to penetrate Zuogou's brain.

Just in time, dozens of nearly transparent crystalline threads burst forth from Zuogou's brow, wrapping around the crystalline light and the crystal clear locks.

The crystal clear locks seemed like fish trapped in a net, halted mid-air by the crystalline threads.

However, the locks were much thicker and longer than the threads, struggling and twisting to continue their advance.

But this brief moment of hesitation was enough for Zuogou to react, leaping off the White Wolf puppet and rapidly flying towards the distance, his voice cold and mocking: "It seems that Your Excellency has little experience fighting against people from the Puppet City. This level of spiritual attack is ineffective against us."

Hei Da immediately followed suit, driving his puppet to chase after Zuogou.

Inside the Blood Array, Han Li's hands formed a seal, and a crystalline light flashed at his brow.

The crystal clear locks immediately intensified their radiance, breaking free from the crystalline threads and shooting back, but they did not pursue Zuogou and Hei Da.

Han Li took a deep breath, operating the Blood Array with all his might, continuously bombarding the mystical orifices on his body.

In this short period, he opened up another 20 to 30 orifices on his body.

Zuogou swiftly flew over to the Golden Winged Hawk puppet, his fingers moving rapidly as crystalline threads shot out from his hands, entering the puppet's body.

Hei Da stood before the Golden Winged Hawk puppet, wary and watching the Blood Array in the distance.

However, no further incidents occurred within the Blood Array.

The Golden Winged Hawk's body immediately radiated a bright golden light, and although the dark energy was still present, it no longer spread.

Zuogou muttered to himself, his hands forming seals as the golden light on the Golden Winged Hawk's body began to churn and surge, enshrouding the dark energy and counterattacking.

The dark energy slowly began to dissipate, but at a very slow pace.

Zuogou's eyes flashed with impatience, and he raised his hand, summoning the black bone sword that had once belonged to Sun Tu. With a swift slash, the sword dispersed a wave of dark energy.

The silhouette of the Lynx Beast reappeared, but its color was much duller than before, and it seemed lazy and unwilling to move.

Zuogou let out a soft snort, his hand grasping the sword as white light flashed, accompanied by several crystalline threads.

The Lynx Beast's silhouette finally stirred, opening its mouth to suck in the dark energy on the Golden Winged Hawk.

The dark energy rapidly detached from the Golden Winged Hawk puppet, forming a hazy column of black light that entered the Lynx Beast's mouth.

The Golden Winged Hawk's golden light drove away the dark energy, and the Lynx Beast's consumption caused the dark energy to rapidly dissipate, disappearing entirely after a few breaths.

The Golden Winged Hawk puppet let out a joyful cry, spreading its wings and taking to the air, transformed into a golden phantom that whirled and spun within the grand hall at an incredible speed, leaving behind over a dozen afterimages.

The golden phantom generated powerful gusts of wind that howled through the hall, leaving behind marks on the floor and walls.

Wu Yun and Zhu Ziyuan were affected by the gusts and immediately retreated to avoid the winds, ceasing their battle.

Zhu Ziyuan looked up at the whirling golden phantom, a hint of fear crossing his face.

Zhu Qing, however, gazed at the phantom, but her eyes were not focused on the Golden Winged Hawk; instead, they reflected Zuogou's figure, a complex glow flashing in her eyes.

Although the golden phantom moved with incredible speed, it seemed slightly unsteady, likely due to Zuogou's unfamiliarity with controlling the puppet.

However, after circling the grand hall twice, the Golden Winged Hawk puppet quickly stabilized.

"The Golden Winged Hawk, renowned for its speed within the Puppet City, truly lives up to its reputation," Zuogou thought, his heart burning with excitement, before turning to gaze at the Blood Array, his eyes flashing with a fierce light, his fingers moving in a blur.

The Golden Winged Hawk let out a sharp cry, its wings beating rapidly as it transformed into a golden afterimage, shooting towards the Blood Array like lightning.

Approaching the Blood Array, the Golden Winged Hawk suddenly retracted its wings, its body resembling a massive golden cone, with its sharp beak at the tip.

The golden beak radiated an unstoppable golden light, imbued with the force to pierce through anything, as it stabbed towards the Blood Array's light shield.

Within the Blood Array, Han Li's brow furrowed, his hands forming a seal as he countered with a swift motion.

A crystalline sword shadow shot out from his brow, radiating a fierce aura, which was his Divine Intent Sword.

However, he was also using his Divine Intent Cage to restrain Chenyang and the other two, exhausting a significant amount of his spiritual energy, so the Divine Intent Sword's might was somewhat diminished compared to when he had last used it.

The Divine Intent Sword shot out, but its target was not the Golden Winged Hawk puppet; instead, it was aimed directly at Zuogou. Only the light flashed, and the sword shadow appeared in front of Zhuo Ge, flying towards his brow.

Zhuo Ge felt the aura of the Mind Sword and his face greatly changed. Without controlling the puppet, his body sprang sideways to dodge.

However, the Mind Sword suddenly changed direction, not striking Zhuo Ge, but instead cutting down the crystal threads emanating from his hands.

"Do you want to pretend one thing but mean another? laughable, do you think I wouldn't see through it?" Zhuo Ge's eyes widened as a sneer flashed on his lips, and his fingers moved, causing the crystal threads on the surface to sparkle, before turning into a misty state.

The Mind Sword didn't stop at all, slashing right through the misty crystal threads.

With a “sizzle” sound, sparks burst out in the void, and the misty crystal threads all exploded and scattered.

The Mind Sword also greatly diminished in radiance, seemingly having consumed a lot, and didn't continue to stay outside, flying back into the blood-colored screen.

"What?" Zhuo Ge was stunned, and an expression of utter disbelieving appeared in his eyes.

The Golden Winged Vulture puppet suddenly lost control, and its wings spread open with a loud whoosh. The direction of its flight suddenly changed, and it began flying upwards.

As a result, the area that collided with the blood-colored screen changed from the bird's beak to its abdomen.

With a loud "Boom" sound!

The blood-colored screen violently indented inwards, before undulating, with the blood light flashing wildly.

The Golden Winged Vulture puppet was bounced back by the screen, crashing into the roof.

Zhuo Ge finally recovered at this moment, and his hands moved again like wheels, sending threads flying out in all directions, darting into the Golden Winged Vulture's body like lightning.

The Golden Winged Vulture puppet glowed golden on the surface, before it was controlled by Zhuo Ge once again. The wings flapped and it barely stopped in time, just inches from crashing into the roof.

Zhuo Ge let out a long sigh, before suddenly looking at the blood formation, and his fingers moved once more, causing the Golden Winged Vulture puppet to turn around and pounce at the blood formation once more.

However, this time he didn't control the Golden Winged Vulture to attack with its beak, but instead had it spread its wings from a distance, with golden light bursting out.

With a “whoosh” sound, countless golden feathers flew out from its wings, emitting a terrifying howl, striking the blood-colored screen.

Han Li, inside the blood cocoon, frowned.

At the moment, he was inside the blood formation, with not many methods at his disposal. If Zhuo Ge was closer to the formation, he could deal with him, but since he was attacking from a distance, he had no way to counter.

Resigned, he pinched his hands together.

The blood-colored screen radiated a strong light, as countless blood-colored thread patterns burst out, and it thickened once more, rigidly resisting the Golden Winged Vulture's attack.

A deafening explosion shook the air, the blood-colored screen violently quaking, rapidly becoming thinner before the naked eye.

The Black large-eyed man at the side, witnessing this scene, urged on the Silver Leopard puppet, launching a long-range attack to aid Zhuo Ge.

The blood-colored screen grew thinner and thinner, until, a few breaths later, it finally shattered with a "Poof" sound.

The countless golden feathers didn't stop at all, continuing to fly into the blood formation.

These golden feathers possessed incredible power, only hearing the sound of tearing fabric, as the thread patterns inside the blood formation were easily cut through, destroyed like dry wood.

The remaining blood formation violently quaked, before large protrusions emerged on its surface, and then exploded with a loud "Boom".

A continuous series of thunderous explosions sounded, until the remaining blood formation had completely disappeared, transforming into a wave of blood energy, wildly surging and spreading outwards.

Zhuo Ge and the Black large-eyed man, though standing at a distance, were swiftly affected by the blood energy wave, and both they and their puppets were pushed back.

Zhuo Ge hastily moved his hands, urging the Golden Winged Vulture puppet to steady itself.

Before he could completely steady the Golden Winged Vulture, a figure burst out of the blood energy wave in front of him, bathed in a dazzling white radiance, and punched at Zhuo Ge's head.

His fist radiated immense power, tearing through the air, leaving a white mark behind, and letting out a thunderous roar.

Zhuo Ge's expression greatly changed, and he didn't bother to control the Golden Winged Vulture, his foot violently stomping on the puppet, as it rapidly shot backwards.

At the same time, a thick white light burst out of his feet, propelling him forward, greatly increasing his speed, as he barely managed to avoid that attack.

"Hmph!" that figure coldly snorted, its foot stomping on the Golden Winged Vulture puppet's back.

A muffled "Boom" sounded, as the Golden Winged Vulture puppet's enormous body crashed to the ground.

That white figure borrowed the force to shoot out, disappearing with a "Whoosh" sound, only to reappear in front of Zhuo Ge the next moment, moving at an unfathomable speed.

A terrified look flashed across Zhuo Ge's face, before he could react, his back suddenly burst out with a "Whoosh" sound, as eight black lights shot out from his spine, transforming into eight long, curved, dark legs, resembling spider legs.

Each of the eight spider legs was 2-3 meters long, with dark and sharp tips, radiating a strange glow, and sending a chill down one's spine.

With a "Whoosh" sound, the eight spider legs immediately shot towards that white figure with the speed of lightning.

Without waiting for the outcome, they struck again and again, not giving the white figure any chance to retaliate.

Eight spider legs moved with the speed of lightning, but the white figure moved even faster. With a stretch and a flick of his hands, the eight spider legs somehow fell into his grasp, and then he snapped them with force.

“Crack” sounded out as the eight spider legs were abruptly severed.

With a flick of his wrist, the eight spider legs transformed into eight black shadows that shot back with lightning speed, stabbing into Zhuo Ge's chest and penetrating through his body.

Zhuo Ge was knocked flying backward, but as he somersaulted in mid-air, he raised his hand and flung out a white cord from his sleeve. With a “Thud,” the cord stabbed into the rooftop and Zhuo Ge pulled himself up with the cord. He flew through a gaping hole in the rooftop and disappeared outside.

This series of actions was incredibly agile, with no signs of injury.

“Hmm!” The white figure exclaimed, but did not give chase. Instead, he flew downward.

The bloody aura below was only beginning to dissipate, and Hei Da's face was filled with fear as he urged the silvery leopard marionette, which had finally stabilized its form, to run toward the nearby wall and escape.

Just then, the white figure suddenly appeared above the silvery leopard's head, as phantom-like as a ghost.

“Hei Da, why are you in such a hurry to leave?”

The figure spoke, and a white light enveloped his body, with an overwhelming power swirling within. The surrounding air seemed to ripple and undulate like the surface of water.

The silvery leopard marionette's head suddenly cracked open, revealing a large web of fractures.

Hei Da moved to jump down from the marionette and escape, but he reconsidered and froze, realizing that he was no match for the white figure's speed.

“Wise decision,” the white figure said, lifting his foot to deliver a kick.

A sharp, immense power exploded from his foot, piercing through the silvery leopard's head and creating a huge hole. The marionette's massive body crashed to the ground.

Hei Da's body trembled, and a flicker of fear crossed his face as he stood motionless.

A loud explosion boomed from the side, and two figures, Wu Yun and Hei Er, burst out from a nearby wall, which had been blasted open.

Seeing the situation with the blood array, they were shocked and immediately abandoned Zhu Zi Yuan and Zhu Zi Qing, turning to flee.

The white figure cast a glance in their direction but did not pursue them.

Zhu Zi Qing's face was filled with fear as she turned to flee, but Zhu Zi Yuan held her back. The two exchanged whispered words and then walked forward.

“Many thanks, Mr. Li, for your help today,” Zhu Zi Yuan said, his body covered in wounds, yet he stood ramrod straight and bowed to the white figure.

Zhu Zi Qing also bowed, thanking him.

The white light enveloping the figure dissipated, revealing Han Li's form.

“The people of Gui Cheng were the ones who left on their own, so you two don't need to thank me,” Han Li said, his eyes flicking toward the siblings before he turned away.

Han Li had no animosity toward Zhu Zi Yuan and his sister, but since E Mei and he were sworn enemies, he naturally did not want to associate with them.

“No matter what, we owe you a debt of gratitude, Mr. Li. I, Zhu Zi Yuan, will definitely repay you someday, thank you,” Zhu Zi Yuan said, turning to walk toward another large hole in the wall.

Zhu Zi Qing glanced at Han Li, her lips moving as if to say something, but she remained silent, following her brother through the hole.

The two quickly disappeared.

“Mr. Li, why did you let me stay behind? What do you want me to do?” Hei Da asked, his face uneasy, as he watched Han Li.

Han Li did not answer Hei Da's question, instead walking away.

“I won't harm you as long as your answers satisfy me. Follow me,” Han Li said, as he walked toward the nearby golden-winged vulture marionette.

Hei Da's face lit up with hope as he followed Han Li.

When they reached the marionette, Han Li gazed at it, his eyes slowly brightening.

“Gui Cheng's puppeteering method involves condensing mental energy into a physical form to control the marionettes, correct?” Han Li asked Hei Da.

“That's right,” Hei Da replied, hesitating for a moment.

“Condensing mental energy requires immense mental strength, and since everyone in Gui Cheng can control marionettes, you must have a secret technique that enhances mental energy. What is it called?” Han Li asked.

“We were taught the 'Puppet Heart' technique by the master of Sha Xin City,” Hei Da replied honestly.

“Tell me about this technique,” Han Li said, his voice cold as his eyes narrowed.

Hei Da's face changed, and he seemed hesitant.

“What's wrong? Does this put you in a difficult position?” Han Li asked, his face frosting over.

Hei Da's expression was troubled, as if caught in a dilemma. "There's no need, the secret art is here, please take a look, Fellow Daoist Lai." Seeing Han Li's expression, Hei Da's heart skipped a beat, knowing that if he didn't comply, he would be on a path to death. He quickly put aside his reservations and handed over a jade slip.

Han Li's expression slightly eased, and he took the jade slip, merging his divine sense into it.

Inside was a secret art for refining one's divine soul, divided into five layers, exceptionally exquisite, comparable to the Refining Divine Technique.

Besides the "Puppet Heart", the jade slip also contained the secret art of transforming one's divine sense into a physical form, and controlling puppets, which was exceptionally mysterious.

Han Li had always been extremely interested in the way of puppets, and he began to study it meticulously.

After a short while, he put away the jade slip and raised his hands.

With a soft hissing sound, thick crystal threads shot out from his fingertips, entering the Golden Winged Hawk's body.

The Golden Winged Hawk's body glowed with golden light, and it immediately took to the air, hovering in mid-air.

Hei Da was shocked upon seeing this scene.

This puppet control technique was extremely profound, and even with sufficient divine sense power, it would take at least a hundred years of bitter practice to master. Yet, the person before him had managed to master it in an instant!

Han Li moved, leaping onto the Golden Winged Hawk's back, and with a slight movement of his fingers, the Golden Winged Hawk darted out, circling and dancing through the air.

However, his control was still somewhat clumsy, and the Golden Winged Hawk flew erratically, far from the exquisite control of Zhuo Ge or the previous Sand Heart.

Han Li didn't linger in the air for long, soon stopping the Golden Winged Hawk and leaping off.

This puppet control technique was quite profound, and he was only able to manage it by relying on his enormous divine sense power. Moreover, he didn't plan on using puppets for combat; he only wanted to familiarize himself with this path to make it easier to fight against the people of Puppet City in the future.

"Earlier, I saw your Puppet City's puppets could shrink into a ball. What method did you use?" Han Li asked Hei Da once more.

"That is a Secret Art of Collecting Puppets, invented by Sand Heart City Lord, combining puppetry with spatial secret techniques. The specific method of application is as follows." Hei Da had already informed Han Li of the "Puppet Heart" and the puppet control technique, so he didn't mind sharing more. He explained the Secret Art of Collecting Puppets to Han Li.

The technique was quite complex, but Han Li had already mastered the puppet control technique. After a bit of practice, he quickly grasped this technique as well.

He formed a seal with his hands, and several crystal lights entered the Golden Winged Hawk puppet's body.

The Golden Winged Hawk puppet's surface glowed with golden light, and the massive puppet rapidly shrunk, transforming into a golden sphere within a few breaths, landing in his hand.

Han Li was satisfied, nodding his head.

"I don't know if Fellow Daoist Lai has any other questions. I'll answer them willingly." Hei Da's heart eased, and he spoke in an attempt to curry favor.

"What is Puppet City's purpose for entering the Great Market this time?" Han Li asked, putting away the golden sphere.

"According to Sand Heart City Lord, our city's objectives are twofold: one is to kill E Bei, and the other is to seize the Sacred Remains. As for whether there are other objectives, I'm not aware of them." Hei Da thought for a moment before answering.

"There's one more question. You just need to answer clearly, and you can leave." Han Li's eyes narrowed, and he paused for a moment before speaking with a serious expression.

"Fellow Daoist Lai, please ask." Hei Da's heart skipped a beat, and he hastily replied.

"That black-robed woman who follows Sand Heart City Lord, I hear you call her Xiao Zi. What do you know about this person? When did she arrive in Puppet City?" Han Li spoke slowly.

"I have a low status in Puppet City, and Xiao Zi always follows Sand Heart City Lord. Her personality is also somewhat cold, and she rarely interacts with outsiders. I only know that she has exceptional talent in puppet control techniques, and the City Lord places significant importance on her. As for when she arrived in Puppet City, I've been in closed-door cultivation for several hundred years, only coming out recently. At that time, Xiao Zi was already present, and it's said she arrived over a hundred years ago." Hei Da thought for a moment before answering.

Han Li listened to his words, standing silently for a long while before lifting his head and saying, "Alright, you can leave."

Hei Da was overjoyed upon hearing this, and he bowed to Han Li before swiftly departing, leaving behind the beheaded Silver Leopard Puppet.

Han Li stood in place for a moment, taking a deep breath, and his expression returned to normal. He first put away Zhuo Ge's white wolf puppet, then walked to the blood pool's edge.

The crying blood formation had exploded, and the five statues beside the blood pool had shattered, but the blood pool itself was relatively undamaged.

He looked down at the blood pool's bottom, and his expression slightly changed.

The blood-colored light door at the pool's bottom was now gone, without a trace.

A person lay at the pool's bottom, motionless, and it was Fu Jian.

Han Li's gaze flashed, and he leaped down, arriving beside Fu Jian's body. He probed with his divine sense.

Fu Jian's body was almost completely ruined, his muscles and internal organs on the verge of collapse. His dantian's Evil Embryo was also nearing collapse.

Although he still had some lingering vital energy, it was rapidly dissipating, and he would soon disappear completely.

Han Li didn't have much goodwill towards Fu Jian, as they had previously had friction. However, seeing Fu Jian's current state, he couldn't help but feel a pang of sorrow.

Nevertheless, he wouldn't take action to save him, nor did he possess such heaven-defying abilities. He soon shifted his gaze, looking at the spot where the blood-colored light door had been.

However, there was nothing there now, not a single trace, as if the light door had never existed.

Han Li's expression was calm, but his heart was filled with a sense of foreboding.

Han Li's gaze flickered as he looked around, his expression contemplative.

Although he had found the Naike Great Formation's formation diagram in the rear hall, he still didn't know why this formation was here, or where the blood-colored light gate's vital energy came from.

Looking at E Mo, he was probably somewhat aware of something.

Han Li raised his head to look at the sky, his thoughts racing nonstop.

E Mo and Sha Xin had left without hesitation, it seemed that the sacred remains were definitely not here, and were probably hidden in a deeper part of the vast wilderness.

However, in order to pursue Zi Ling, and also to be able to leave this Accumulated Scales Realm, no matter the danger, he couldn't retreat.

Han Li exhaled a long breath, as if he had spouted out all his worries, and his expression returned to calm.

His hands were empty, and a brilliant white light surged on his body, with densely packed, fine spots of mysterious energies appearing all over him, a total of four hundred and seventy-five.

Just now, although Zhuan Ge had interfered, he still managed to complete the first three tiers of the Heavenly Massacre Imperial Prison Technique with the help of the Naike Great Formation's power before the formation collapsed.

Moreover, his body's Polarity Seal Bottle had absorbed nearly half of the Naike Great Formation's power, which could be drawn out later to break through other meridians.

With his current physical strength, although he couldn't be a match for E Mo and Sha Xin, apart from those two, no one among the Xuan Castle and Kuicheng's people could be his match.

Also, with his current speed, even if he encountered E Mo and Sha Xin, he should still have a bit of hope to escape.

Han Li quickly retracted the white light on his body and jumped back down to the ground.

His gaze shifted, looking towards the other side of the blood pool.

Chenyang and Xuan Yuan were still standing there, unmoving.

He pressed a seal and pointed, and their heads flashed with a crystal light, several crystal chains shot out.

Chenyang's bodies moved, and they immediately recovered.

They looked around and saw that the grand hall was in an even more disastrous state than before, and apart from Han Li, there was no one else around. Their expressions changed.

"Are you alright, Dao friend...?" Chenyang looked at Han Li, a hint of awkwardness flashing on his face, and spoke in a stutter.

"The Kuicheng people have all left, you two can chase after them if you want," Han Li said indifferently, and didn't bother with them.

His body flickered, turning into a wisp of cyan smoke, which shot out of the large hole in the wall.

Once outside, Han Li swept his gaze around, and his eyebrows furrowed.

In this Vast Wilderness' secret realm, his spiritual sense had little effect, so he could only carefully investigate the remaining fluctuations in the sky and earth to determine where Sha Xin's group had gone.

However, the time interval was too long, and the remaining marks in the void were extremely sparse, so he could only roughly determine a direction, and his body leaped forward, chasing after that direction.

At this moment, his body seemed to be filled with an inexhaustible amount of power, and he was still somewhat unaccustomed to the immense strength in his hands and feet, which often involuntarily burst out with a humming sound.

In a few flashes, his shadow had already disappeared into the distance.

Along the way, he still saw vast expanses of ruined buildings, crumbling walls, and scars everywhere.

Han Li's thoughts were on the black-robed woman called "Little Zi", and he didn't have the time to investigate these places, so he relentlessly pursued her.

Three days later.

Han Li arrived at a desolate garden, where winding corridors encircled, and were dotted with giant, varied boulders, covering a vast area.

As he followed the garden corridor, he suddenly heard the sound of clashing blades coming from the left front, mixed in with some familiar, shrill cries.

Han Li's brow furrowed, and he suppressed the fluctuations of his stellar powers, not jumping up, but carefully approaching.

Exiting the garden, he proceeded forward for a few dozen miles, and after passing through a dense area of ruins, he arrived at the edge of an enormous, several-tens-of-thousands-of-meters-wide, deep crater.

He hid behind a crumbling green rock wall, looking down.

Only to see that the deep crater was filled with thunderous noises.

A bone-armored, white-robed woman, holding a white bone whip and a white bone spear, was moving up and down in the crater, her wrist twisting and turning as the whip danced wildly, striking a black-armored man wielding a battle knife.

Where the whip landed, brilliant white lights flashed, accompanied by the sound of thunder exploding, causing the void to shake.

"Is that her?" Han Li muttered.

The white-robed woman was none other than Kotensen, who was fighting a black-armored man.

On his body, he wore a suit of purple magic armor, its purple light radiating strongly, using the armor to withstand Kotensen's long whip, and resisting its attacks with his battle knife in hand, pressing in on Kotensen.

Kotensen had three blood holes on her abdomen, and her lower garments were stained with blood, resembling plum blossoms blooming in the snow. It was clear that she had already clearly fallen into a disadvantageous position, and it was only a matter of time before she was defeated. Han Li's gaze shifted, and he noticed a woman's corpse lying not far from the two of them. Her figure was petite and slender, with a bullet wound in her chest. It was the gentlewoman who had been following Shi Zhanfeng earlier.

A clanging sound!

Gu Qianxun's whip wrapped itself around Shi Zhanfeng's long knife, its tip striking towards his face like a snake spitting venom.

Shi Zhanfeng retreated a step, his long knife violently jerking upwards, causing the whip to tense up.

"Break for me!" he roared, his mouth filled with fury. The starlight on his long knife flashed brightly, and a powerful, overwhelming force erupted.

A series of explosive sounds rang out, and the white whip shattered inch by inch, exploding in all directions.

Gu Qianxun was impacted by the unleashed energy, her abdominal wound worsening, and she stumbled backward.

Shi Zhanfeng had already rushed forward, his knife swooping down towards her with great force.

Gu Qianxun's face turned pale, her hand holding onto her bone spear as she blocked the attack. The force was immense, and the black stone floor cracked, Gu Qianxun's legs sinking into it below the knees. She coughed up more blood, her face deathly pale, and her body trembled.

Shi Zhanfeng knocked the bone spear out of her hand, his knife pressed against her neck, his expression ruthless. "Who instructed you to launch a sneak attack on me?"

Gu Qianxun's gaze was somewhat dazed, and she glanced at the corpse in the distance, feeling a pang of regret.

If it weren't for this woman, who had sacrificed herself to block that one attack, Gu Qianxun would have had the opportunity to kill Shi Zhanfeng.

"Why ask questions? Kill me if you want to," Gu Qianxun said slowly, her voice weak.

"There's no need to waste time with you here; I still have to return to the Qianji Temple. Since you're eager to die, I'll grant you that wish." Shi Zhanfeng sneered, raising his knife to strike.

Just then, a piercing sound cut through the air.

A fireball shot towards Shi Zhanfeng's knife, the force behind it unimaginable. It struck the knife with a loud clang, sending Shi Zhanfeng stumbling backward.

Shi Zhanfeng glanced at the knife mark on his blade and discovered that it was a piece of melted stone, slowly flowing down the length of the knife.

He turned to look at Han Li, who was standing in the distance, three or four stones the size of walnuts in his hand, catching and tossing them in a slow and deliberate motion as he walked towards them.

"Is that...?" Shi Zhanfeng's expression changed, and he exclaimed in surprise.

"Li Dao...friend..." Gu Qianxun's expression was complex, and she muttered under her breath.

"Great Temple Master, you're unharmed, I presume?" Han Li said, a hint of a smile on his lips.

Shi Zhanfeng watched Han Li approach, his eyes narrowing slightly as a strange feeling arose within him. The person before him seemed different from the Han Li he knew.

"Are you here to intervene in my private feud with her?" Shi Zhanfeng asked, his brow furrowed.

"I don't know if you have a private feud with her, but I have some matters to discuss with her. If you'll excuse us, Great Temple Master," Han Li replied, his footsteps uninterrupted.

"Let's resolve our business first, and then you can talk to her," Shi Zhanfeng sneered, his wrist twisting as he swung his knife towards Gu Qianxun's head once more.

Han Li's eyes flashed, and his palm glowed with a brilliant white light. He rubbed his fingers together, and the ordinary stone in his hand turned red-hot.

He jerked his wrist, and a soft crackling sound filled the air, followed by a long, piercing whine.

Four red-hot stones shot out from his hand, becoming four intertwining arcs of fire that flew towards Shi Zhanfeng. Two of the stones struck his war knife, while the other two targeted his dantian and heart.

Shi Zhanfeng's face paled, and he swiftly raised his knife to defend himself.

The two stones aimed at his knife missed their mark, but the other two struck it with a deafening crash, sending Shi Zhanfeng flying backward, his legs scraping against the ground and creating deep grooves.

Once he regained his balance, Shi Zhanfeng glanced at the two visible cracks on his knife and scowled.

"It seems Li Dao has had another breakthrough in this great market. I suppose I'll give you face this time."

Shi Zhanfeng's voice had barely faded when his white bone knife snapped in two with a loud crack.

He tossed the hilt aside, his expression calm, and smiled faintly. "Until next time, farewell."

With that, he turned and leaped into the distance, disappearing from sight.

Han Li let him go without interference, turning to approach Gu Qianxun.

Gu Qianxun's eyes had been fixed on him, and she forced a weak smile.

Gu Qian Xun gazed at Han Li's gradually approaching figure, her complexion changing with a mix of emotions, lost in thought.

"Can you loosen your grip on that thing? Do you really need to be so stubborn and end up like the stone you're holding?" Han Li asked as he glanced at her.

Upon hearing his words, Gu Qian Xun relaxed her body, seemingly recovering some of her energy.

She retrieved a white jade object from her sleeve and inserted it into her clothing, then fell backward, landing seated on the ground. With her hands, she gently pulled her legs out of the ground.

"Why did you save me? We've already become enemies," Gu Qian Xun asked after consuming a beast pill.

"I met Six Flower Lady earlier, and she helped me get rid of the Black Calamity's evil influence. By saving you, I repaid the favor she owed me," Han Li replied slowly, observing that Gu Qian Xun's injuries were severe but not life-threatening.

"You met her? How is she?" Gu Qian Xun inquired hastily.

"She's fine. Earlier, she was taken away by E Mo, possibly to the place where the Sacred Corpse is located," Han Li said calmly.

Gu Qian Xun listened intently and felt somewhat reassured.

"What is your background?" Han Li asked abruptly.

"You should already know, right? Yes, I'm indeed the chess piece Three Prince left in Jilei Space. Back then, if not for his protection, I would have died at the hands of Du Qing Yang along with my mother. As for being able to grow up and eventually avenge my mother's death, it's all thanks to him. So this time, when he ordered me to kill the Eldest Prince and the Thirteenth Prince, I couldn't disobey," Gu Qian Xun replied after a brief hesitation.

Han Li heard this and thought about his past encounters with San Huang Zi Shi Bao Kong. He found that he couldn't pinpoint many flaws, and so he couldn't help but sigh.

Gu Qian Xun assumed Han Li was referring to her, so a bitter smile appeared on her face as she said, "If I had a choice, I really wouldn't want to be your enemy."

"You can go kill the Eldest Prince if you want; I won't stop you and might even lend you a hand when necessary. However, if you harm Shi Chuan Kong again, don't blame me for not showing you mercy and taking your life," Han Li warned, frowning.

Gu Qian Xun listened to his words, her gaze complex, and she remained silent for a long time.

"You should be ready by now, so I'll be taking my leave. Shi Zhan Feng shouldn't be returning anytime soon," Han Li said and jumped over her, disappearing into the distance.

Gu Qian Xun stood motionless, silent for a long time before slowly standing up. She took a few unsteady steps to the side, bent down, and picked up her white bone hook. With a deep breath, she began chasing after Han Li.

Meanwhile, Han Li's figure danced among the ancient structures as he moved swiftly.

Currently, his brow was furrowed, and his emotions were in disarray.

This trip to Jilei Space had taken much longer than he had anticipated. Initially, he thought he would find Zilian quickly and return, but instead, he became embroiled in the intricate conflicts between the two cities, Xuan Qie.

The tricks and schemes between the two cities were already enough to make one's head ache. Now, with the involvement of the Eldest Prince Shi Zhan Feng and San Huang Zi Shi Bao Kong, the situation was becoming increasingly complicated.

Compared to Shi Zhan Feng's personal adventures, Han Li was more concerned about Shi Bao Kong's hidden machinations, as evidenced by Gu Qian Xun's circumstances. It was clear that Shi Bao Kong had been secretly operating in Jilei Space for quite some time.

Why were both parties so interested in this desolate place, Jilei Space? Logically, the reason should be connected to the Sacred Corpse in the ancient city.

This line of thinking made Han Li's heart tighten slightly. Was it possible that Shi Chuan Kong was also searching for this?

"Rather than pondering this, I should think about the enigma of Xi Dao Ren," Han Li said to himself with a hint of self-deprecation.

Ever since he entered Jilei Space, he noticed that his connection with Xi Dao Ren seemed to be growing weaker, not in the sense that their divine soul bond was severed, but rather that he felt an increasing sense of separation from him.

As he pondered the contents recorded on the jade slate Xi Dao Ren gave him, Han Li grew more curious about Xi Dao Ren's true intentions.

He even wondered if Xi Dao Ren's 'Master' was the Sacred Corpse or the previous master of the ancient city, considering the jade slate contained information on the locations and acquisition methods of the hollowed spheres.

At the moment, he was tracing the path outlined in the jade slate. After traveling several hundred miles, vast areas of damaged and dilapidated ruins came into view. The traces were relatively new, covering an extensive range, likely left behind by the previous confrontation between E Mo and Sha Xin.

Han Li occasionally stopped to investigate and would then continue his pursuit.

Time flew, and over half a month passed.

Eventually, after relentless searching, Han Li arrived at a vast expanse of white stone square.

The square was surrounded by four nine-story sharp towers, each standing in the four corners. In the center of the square stood a magnificent temple with a jade-glazed tile roof, its grandeur far surpassing that of any building Han Li had seen in the town before. Unlike the ruins and wreckage he had seen along the way, this temple, though ancient, was remarkably well preserved. The glazed tiles on the roof and the pillars surrounding the temple shone like new, without a single sign of wear.

Han Li gazed at the temple from afar, noticing the two massive doors at the entrance, adorned with intricate carvings and hanging open. Above the entrance, a golden signboard bore three ancient characters.

"The Thousand Mechanism Temple..." Han Li whispered to himself, suddenly recalling that Shi Zhanfeng had mentioned this name before.

As he thought about it, Han Li furrowed his brow, suppressed the fluctuations in his aura, and flew towards the temple.

Upon approaching the temple, Han Li noticed that the stone bricks on the ground were covered with starlight symbols, stretching for thousands of feet around the temple. This was clearly a complex array.

As he reached the corridor outside the temple, the symbol pattern changed again, revealing another array.

Near the entrance, Han Li saw scorch marks on the open doors, indicating that the original seals had been broken.

Instead of rushing in, Han Li carefully peered inside.

The interior of the temple was in disarray, with stone pedestals and furniture overturned and shattered. It was evident that a fierce battle had recently taken place within.

Han Li held his breath, listening for a moment, and discovered that the temple was deathly silent.

With a swift movement, he entered the temple.

Inside, the temple was empty, devoid of any human figures or signs of Sha Xin's group. Only scattered fragments of furniture and towering bone armored puppets lay about.

Han Li's brow furrowed as he cautiously explored the temple.

After a thorough examination, he found that the bone puppets seemed to be of the same origin as those he had seen in other ruins, rather than being controlled by the puppet city.

Just then, Han Li spotted a small, unassuming black stone chair amidst the wreckage. He approached it, circling around it once, a hint of a smile on his lips.

Seizing the chair's backrest with both hands, Han Li suddenly twisted it to one side.

A faint scraping sound was followed by the appearance of a small, dark passageway next to the chair.

After a brief hesitation, Han Li stepped into the passageway and descended the stone stairs within.

A hundred feet down, the stairs ended, and a doorway appeared. A faint breeze and muffled voices could be heard from within.

Han Li slowed his pace, trying not to make a sound, and then activated his Feathered Wings technique, swiftly entering the doorway.

Upon entering, Han Li relaxed, seeing no one lying in wait.

He hid behind a boulder and carefully observed his surroundings.

Before him lay a massive blood lake, its surface spanning thousands of feet. It was filled with crimson liquid, gently rippling like water.

A layer of bloody mist hung above the lake, radiating a faint, flickering glow.

As Han Li scanned the lake, his gaze suddenly locked onto something in the center—a crystal coffin floating on the surface.

The coffin was wide at the top and narrow at the bottom, about ten feet in size, with a flawless, crystal-clear body. A complex symbol pattern adorned its surface, including a five-pointed star diagram surrounded by at least five additional arrays. Han Li realized that the core symbol was a five-pointed star, though it was intricate and masterfully crafted.

Within the coffin lay a ten-foot-long, skeleton-like corpse with a jade-like luster. Its head had sharp bones, pointed teeth, and what appeared to be scaly patterns on its bones, marking it as a demon corpse.

Just then, Han Li felt a sudden, faint tremor in his mind, as if sensing a familiar aura—possibly that of the crab-like immortal, yet his location remained elusive.

With a thought, Han Li closed his eyes and focused on sensing the aura.

Opening his eyes shortly after, Han Li's face revealed a look of surprise.

He had discovered that his spiritual connection with the crab-like immortal was growing weaker by the second.

"You traitor, will you continue to be stubborn?" A furious shout echoed from across the blood lake.

Han Li refocused, gazing towards the voice and spotted a confrontation unfolding on the other side of the lake. The puppets and the other group, led by Sha Xin, were facing off against E Mei.

Six Flower Mistress stood behind E Mei, while Shi Chong Kong lay at her feet, either unconscious or bound by E Mei's restraints.

Sha Xin, you've always been stubborn and refused to see reason. I'll ask you one question, after waiting through these endless years, what have we been waiting for?" E Mo asked, his hand raised.

Sha Xin didn't respond, her eyes fixed on E Mo, her expression stern.

"We've been trapped in Jilei Void for so many years, and our cities, your Ku City and my Xuanci City, have been entangled in grudges for just as long. Now that you've come to me, wanting to join forces to enter this ancient land, don't you have the same goal as me? Why bring up old business and deceive yourself?" E Mo sneered.

"Don't put me on the same level as you!" Sha Xin said word by word.

"Sha Xin, for old times' sake, I'll offer you some advice. Now that the Demon King's corpse is before us, if we divide it between us, our great Dao can be expected. When the time comes, wanting to leave Jilei Void, this prison, will be effortless. Once we reach the Demon Realm or the Immortal Realm, it'll be a vast expanse of freedom." E Mo burst into laughter.

When Han Li heard these words, his gaze drifted towards the crystal coffin floating at the center of the Blood Lake.

At this moment, he was almost certain that the crystal coffin contained the Demon Clan's corpse, which they referred to as the "Sacred Remains". But why did E Mo call it the "Demon King"?

As he thought about this, he couldn't help but associate it with Xiadaoren, who seemed to have an unclear relationship with Jilei Void.

Or perhaps this "Demon King" was Xiadaoren's master back in the day?

"Xiadaoren, are you here?" Han Li tried to contact him using his divine sense, but there was no response.

Just then, Sha Xin's voice rang out.

"Do you think I've come to join forces with you for the same selfish reasons? You're greatly mistaken. To be honest, I've already found a way to revive my master." Sha Xin sneered.

"Ha! Revive? You're still delusional... The Demon King's attempt at merging with the Dao failed, and he's long dead, leaving behind only this corpse. It's impossible to revive him, or else this place wouldn't have been quiet for so many years. I wish the Demon King weren't dead, so I wouldn't be stuck here for so long! I advise you to give up, and stop doing something pointless." E Mo's face flickered with mockery.

"You heartless and treacherous thing, if not for your betrayal, bringing the Demon Lord to intervene at the critical moment of our master's merging with the Dao, our master would have succeeded and advanced to the Daoren realm." Sha Xin cursed.

"Hmph... You don't know anything. Even if the Demon Lord hadn't intervened, he still wouldn't have succeeded." E Mo sneered.

"My master possessed unparalleled talent and abilities, how could you possibly understand? If not for my master's cultivation, you would have long ago turned to dust in some filthy place. Now you dare to call him the Demon King, without even showing the respect due to a master... " Sha Xin angrily rebuked.

"That's enough! He taught me the way of cultivation, only because he saw my potential and wanted to cultivate a tool for himself. I'm not like you, treated as a pawn, and still happy about it. But, I chose Xuanshen, and you chose Kuwu, it was predetermined from the start. You're destined to be the Demon King's pawn, even after his death, you can't escape." E Mo's face twisted in anger, interrupting Sha Xin's rebuke.

"No matter what you say, you won't get the master's remains this time. After I revive him, he'll personally settle the score with you for your betrayal." Sha Xin suppressed her anger, her expression gradually calming.

E Mo's eyes flickered towards the figure lying on the ground, Shi Chong Kong, and laughed: "You don't have the Demon Clan's imperial bloodline, so you can't even open the crystal coffin. I have a real imperial prince, if you're willing to cooperate, we can both benefit. Otherwise, we can only watch the treasure before us, without being able to get it."

Just as E Mo finished speaking, a tall figure suddenly emerged from behind Sha Xin, laughing loudly: "Your words are incorrect, Lord E. Our sacred clan's bloodline is rare, but not limited to just the thirteen brothers. Mine is even more refined."

As the person spoke, they removed their hood, revealing a head of white hair, an ordinary face, but with an extraordinary aura. A pair of deep purple pupils shone with light.

Han Li's gaze swept over the figure, and his brow furrowed in surprise. This person was actually the Crown Prince, Shi Zhan Feng.

E Mo's expression changed, his face twisted in ferocity, and he snarled: "I've been kind enough to advise you, but you still refuse to give up. We can only end this in a life-or-death struggle."

With a final word, he stomped his foot, causing the underground space to shake violently. The Blood Lake's surface rippled wildly.

E Mo's figure turned into a wisp of smoke, disappearing from sight. The next instant, he reappeared behind Shi Zhan Feng, his hand shooting out like a hook to grab the crown prince's head.

Shi Zhan Feng's eyes flashed with warning, but his body was too slow to react. As E Mo's fingers were about to pierce his skull, a white bone spear suddenly shot out from the side, clashing with E Mo's wrist.

Shi Chong Kong glanced to the side, seeing Kun Yu standing with eyes blazing, holding a white bone spear with a starry glow. She had thrust it out to block E Mo's attack.

The spear was curved like a crescent moon, and it only managed to push E Mo's palm aside by a fraction of an inch. The crown prince's head was barely missed, but the wind from the spear left several bloody gashes on his face.

Seizing the opportunity, Shi Zhan Feng dodged to the side, his foot stomping the ground fiercely. His body burst forward, and his hand swiftly drew a white three-edged bone sword. The sword's surface shone with starlight as it pierced towards E Mo's abdomen.

E Mo's wrist flexed, shattering Kun Yu's bone spear as it met the three-edged bone sword. He raised his knee, using it to block the sword. Only Han Li saw his legs covered in a dense array of star points which lit up, a hazy layer of white light like armor unfolding to cover his outer body, blocking the bone sword's sharp tip, rendering it unable to pierce through no matter how brightly the star points on the sword shone.

"You seek death!" Er Shi let out a cold snort, ferociously flipping his foot up.

At the tip of his foot, a cluster of condensed white light instantly exploded, charging straight at Shi Zhan Feng's face.

The latter saw things weren't looking good, his long sword not retreating but instead surging forward, fiercely stabbing, and then that counter force suddenly burst out, instantly pulling them apart by nearly a hundred zhang.

However, as fast as he retreated, he was far from a match for Er Shi. Before he could steady his body, Er Shi had already caught up.

Er Shi was clearly urgent to get rid of Shi Zhan Feng. In that instant of nearness, his waist suddenly spun around, his entire spine rising and falling like a dragon emerging from the sea, emitting loud rumbling noises.

Muscles bulged on his right arm, the layers of white starlight bursting out, an explosive power gushing out from the tip of his fist.

The fist hadn't yet arrived, but Shi Zhan Feng's countenance had already undergone a drastic change. He felt even his breathing had become somewhat labored, the surrounding air seemingly twisted to the point that even moving his body became unusually difficult.

Han Li gazed at this scene, his heart somewhat shaken. Previously, Er Shi had suffered severe injuries, but before long, he had recovered to such an extent?

The might of this blow was such that even he, as he was now, had no confidence that he could withstand it.

Just then, an unexpected change took place!

Accompanying the continuous sonic booms, on the twelve metal orbs surrounding Er Shi, dazzling lights suddenly burst out.

The next moment, twelve bone puppets with starlight radiating from their bodies emerged, each holding a sharp, curved white bone chain, simultaneously flung out.

The twelve white bone chains transformed into a network of white rainbows, crisscrossing the air as they swooped in like a web.

Er Shi took in the scene, his fist, which had been moving to strike Shi Zhan Feng, suddenly changing direction, swinging upwards instead.

A burst of white starlight exploded from the top of his fist, like opening up a dazzling starry sky, streams of light shooting up, striking the white bone chain web.

At this time, the bone chain web above, every star point, after a flash of light, ceased to spew out stellar forces and instead transformed into tiny whirlpools that surged forth, exuding a formidable devouring force.

The starlight flowing from Er Shi's fist was like water being absorbed by the void, completely losing its might.

"What is this...?" Er Shi hadn't finished expressing his shock when the bone chain web completely closed in.

"Patterning" a soft cry rang out, the twelve bone puppets simultaneously performing a hand seal, their footsteps rapidly changing as they completed the patterning within seconds.

A flash of silver electricity instantly crossed the bone chain web, coalescing into a silver ball that imprisoned Er Shi.

Han Li heard the cry, frowning as he looked over, discovering that the black-clad woman, Xia Zi, who was called 'Little Purple' by Sa Xin, was currently seated on the ground, an array plate before her, twelve white pieces atop it.

Controlling twelve puppets and having them jointly cast a spell to lay down a formation was an extraordinary feat, and yet, it wasn't Sa Xin but her who achieved it.

Kun Yu, who held the bone spear, stood beside her, guarding her.

Han Li's surprise was ongoing when Er Shi sneered, "Do you think this crude formation can trap me?"

Following that, he bellowed with laughter and continued, "You can't even beat Shi Zhan Feng! Do you think you can trap me with this?"

His words were directed at Xia Zi and Kun Yu.

His body at once grew brighter as he lifted his fist and pummeled the bone chain net imprisoning him with great force.

There was a deafening crash.

The starlight on his fist burst out, and at the same time, the massive force behind it was absorbed by the devouring force of the bone chains.

While Er Shi had counterattacked with huge momentum, the devouring force of the bone chain web absorbed most of it and simultaneously triggered the electrical barrage hidden within, sending forth lightning to clash against Er Shi's body, causing large sparks to erupt.

Er Shi's attack had been strong, but he had not managed to break free. A faint, imperceptible crack appeared on the surface of the puppets.

As for Xia Zi, the moment the puppets finished casting their joint spell, she suddenly stiffened, her face pale and covered in perspiration.

"This natural array might not be able to trap you forever," Sa Xin said in a cold and emotionless voice, "but even if you can break free in a short time, it's still sufficient."

As soon as she said this, Sa Xin made eye contact with Shi Zhan Feng, and both of them leaped off the shore and flew towards the center of the lake.

In just a few flashes of movement, they reached the middle of the Blood Lake.

Shaxin and Shi Zhanteng's toes lightly touched the surface of the Blood Lake, and they stood by the water, beside the crystal coffin. The lake's surface rippled with waves.

Shaxin looked at the skeleton inside the crystal coffin, and her eyes flickered with complex emotions. She took a deep breath and said:

"Shi fellow, lend me your vital blood. I promise to repay you after this matter is settled."

Shi Zhanteng nodded silently, lifted his palm, and made a heavy stroke on the Three- Edged Sword in his hand. A cut opened on his palm, and a few strands of dark red blood with a hint of golden light flowed out.

Shaxin saw this and took out a star-pen carved from white bone, covered in intricate hollow patterns, from her sleeve pocket.

With a stroke, the star-pen was stained with Shi Zhanteng's vital blood. It began to dance and draw on the crystal coffin at an incredible speed.

The dark red bloodstains turned into lines, forming a large blood-colored symbol array on the coffin, complementing the complex five-pronged star map on the crystal coffin and blending into one.

Han Li frowned and looked away, only to see the crystal coffin glowing bright red. The coffin's body was shaking violently, causing the entire Blood Lake to ripple.

A layer of blood-red lake water spread out like a living thing, covering the entire crystal coffin and transforming it into a giant blood cocoon.

A loud "Boom" shook the air.

E Xian continued to attack the surrounding bone chain array that trapped him, with an unstoppable force.

The lightning-covered restraint array absorbed the star power in the attack and blocked the blow, but the cracks on the twelve bone suits of armor increased twofold.

A faint sound echoed.

The twelve white chess pieces on the array plate in front of "Xiaozi" (Little Purple) all cracked open.

Her body trembled violently, and her pale face, covered in black silk, was devoid of any blood color.

Han Li noticed this and his expression tightened, with a hint of hesitation in his eyes.

Under the current circumstances, if he were to act rashly, it was hard to say what actions E Xian and Shaxin would take. Han Li didn't dare to guarantee that his temporary intervention wouldn't backfire and cause unforeseen consequences for "Little Purple."

Although he knew that "Little Purple" was likely Zilong, this wasn't the time to reveal her identity.

Just then, a muffled voice came from the crystal coffin, enveloped in the blood cocoon.

The blood water on the cocoon flowed downward, revealing the legendary saintly skeleton. However, the crystal coffin had vanished, leaving only a blood-red crystal plate beneath the skeleton, floating on the surface of the Blood Lake.

The saint's skeleton appeared without any grand or unusual signs. The corpse itself didn't emit any exceptionally intense energy fluctuations, resembling an ordinary demon corpse.

But when Han Li's gaze fell on the blood-colored crystal plate beneath the skeleton, a glint of surprise appeared in his eyes.

He saw that the crystal plate was covered in mysterious and incomprehensible symbols. Although most of them were unfamiliar to him, the small part he recognized revealed the plate's function – suppressing the blood energy within the skeleton.

E Xian's gaze, piercing through the lightning, looked over, with an increasingly greedy glint in his eyes. He launched another frenzied attack on the confinement array that trapped him.

Shaxin noticed this and focused her gaze, dismissing all nostalgic thoughts. She quickly formed hand seals in front of her.

She whispered incantations, her fingers rotating like blooming flower petals. In front of her, she pinched out a bizarre and intricate spell seal. Pressing her palm against her lower abdomen, a layer of her skin flipped open, revealing a mechanical, clockwork-like interior.

A dazzling white light burst forth from her lower abdomen, accompanied by the sound of machinery whirring.

"It's been transformed into a puppet..." Liu Huaming exclaimed in surprise.

Han Li furrowed his brow, equally astonished.

From the opening in her abdomen, a brilliant, blood-colored glow burst forth, illuminating the surroundings.

The blood-filled lake surrounding them, save for Shaxin and E Xian, was filled with people whose faces all showed shock and astonishment.

Within the blood-colored light, a crystal orb containing a living heart appeared.

Han Li saw through the crystal orb that the heart was still beating – jumping up and down. He could even hear the sound of its rhythmic beats:

"Thump, thump, thump..."

A powerful life force also emanated from the heart.

After removing the heart, Shaxin's opening in her abdomen started to close, layer by layer, like a lily petal folding in. Her entire being weakened, as if she had lost half of her strength; her face turned pale. "Ha ha... I didn't think that to protect this heart, you would actually nourish it within your own body, yet you dare not take anything from it. No wonder you haven't made any progress in so many years, your cultivation has even regressed significantly. How foolish!" Er Bi said with a loud laugh.

Shaxin turned her back to Er Bi, not looking at him. She took out a beast pill and swallowed it, then grasped the crystal ball with both hands. Her palms began to shine with dazzling white light, as she tried to retrieve the sealed heart.

Just then, a sudden change occurred!

Shaxin's expression changed abruptly, and she let out a low groan.

A white, pointed bone suddenly protruded from her chest, piercing her heart.

The white, pointed bone had three grooved slots, guiding the heart's blood to flow out, instantly staining half her body red.

"Sorry, Shazhong..." Shi Zhanfeng, standing behind Shaxin, said expressionlessly, his hand tightening around the three-edged bone sword. A crumbling sound came from her chest cavity.

Shaxin suddenly spat out blood, her body twisting rapidly as she swung her palm at Shi Zhanfeng's head.

However, he had already released the three-edged bone sword and dodged to the side. His body's acupoints flashed rapidly, and his speed reached an extreme point. He slid past her side, a white bone dagger appearing in his palm, which he stabbed into Shaxin's abdomen.

At the same time, his body surged forward, and he snatched the crystal ball from Shaxin's hand. He retreated violently, landing on the other side of the bloody lake, creating distance between himself and Shaxin's group.

Before everyone could react to the sudden change, another explosion occurred on the shore of the bloody lake.

A loud "boom" shook the air.

A massive silver electric light burst forth, fragmenting into countless silver snake-like lightning bolts that shot in all directions, causing the entire underground space to shudder.

White bones shattered and dispersed, striking the ceiling and walls, riddled with numerous holes.

Han Li's gaze narrowed, his body bending downward. A fragmented white bone flew toward him, shaving off the bizarre rock that was shielding him.

The bone chain formation that was trapping Er Bi finally shattered, and the twelve bone puppet suits exploded one by one. The twelve white chess pieces also burst, taking the black array disk with them. Xicao, who was controlling the formation, stumbled backward, spitting up blood from her mouth.

After escaping, Er Bi didn't bother with Xicao. He glanced at Shaxin, who still had the bone sword lodged in her heart, then looked at Shi Zhanfeng and smiled, "Congratulations, Crown Prince. You've obtained the heart."

"Thank you, Lord Er Bi, for helping me," Shi Zhanfeng replied with a smile.

"Originally... it seems you two were in cahoots all along." Shaxin pulled out the three-edged bone sword from her heart, her brow furrowed in displeasure.

Er Bi chuckled, "Shazhong, forgive me. Was our previous performance convincing enough?"

Shaxin remained silent.

Earlier, Er Bi had been chasing Shi Zhanfeng, and she hadn't immediately intervened, intending to gauge his true loyalties. However, she had underestimated their cunning.

She reached into her sleeve and retrieved a small black stone bottle. She opened the bottle and poured out a golden, sand-like substance, which she applied to the wound on her heart. The golden sand instantly swirled into the wound, repairing the damage.

"Without the heart, you no longer have the chance to revive your master. I'll give you one more opportunity to share this holy skeleton with me," Er Bi said, addressing Shaxin as "master" for the first time.

Shaxin ignored him, her palm opening to reveal a metal ball the size of a dragon's eye.

"Xicao, retrieve the heart at all costs."

"It seems you want to oppose me to the end. I won't hold back our past connection," Er Bi sneered, leaping toward the center of the bloody lake.

Shaxin swung her palm, and the metal ball shot out, lighting up the air. A golden giant emerged, its body like copper and iron, adorned with intricate iron chain armor and eight arms, all bare and muscular. The giant's eyes glowed red as its eight arms struck simultaneously, conjuring a tempest.

Er Bi snickered and raised his fist to meet the giant's attack.

His body's acupoints flashed rapidly, like starlight. His punch shattered the air, producing countless fist shadows that clashed with the giant's eight arms.

A deafening crash echoed through the underground space, accompanied by the sounds of thunder and raging winds.

On the other side, Xicao, now back on her feet, controlled two peculiar puppets that appeared before her. One was humanoid with four metallic wings on its back, while the other was beast-like, with a young girl's head, and resembled a tiger or leopard.

The two puppets charged at Shi Zhanfeng from left, right, above, and below.

Shi Zhan Feng seemed to have anticipated this, not moving, but with a single hand flip, a golden sphere appeared in his palm, which he tossed upwards.

The golden sphere glowed with a brilliant light and a series of mechanical sounds could be heard. As it exploded, a blast of golden light enveloped Shi Zhan Feng's figure.

As the light dissipated, the golden sphere had vanished, replaced by a golden cage several feet in diameter, encasing Shi Zhan Feng's figure.

The Winged Puppet flew before him, its four wings flapping in unison, releasing a flurry of sharp, white, feather-like blades that shot towards Shi Zhan Feng with great speed.

The blades ripped through the air, leaving behind a trail of black lines that vanished in an instant.

On the other side, the Beast Puppet had arrived, its head suddenly cocked to one side, as a stream of white light emerged from its mouth, transforming into a streak of silver lightning that struck the cage.

The lightning and flames engulfed the golden cage, as the sound of clashing blades and thunder rumbled on.

Han Li fixed his gaze on the golden cage, his brow furrowing in concern.

As the lightning dissipated, the golden cage, though covered in scars, remained intact.

Inside, Shi Zhan Feng stood unscathed, his face solemn, clutching a crystal sphere in one hand, and using his other hand to etch symbols onto the sphere with his bloody index finger, as if attempting to remove the crystal seal.

Han Li's brow furrowed, hesitant about whether to take the crystal sphere for himself.

He could sense that the crimson heart within the crystal sphere was no ordinary object, imbued with an aura akin to the Blood Tears Array, and seemed to have a connection to the 'Demon King' corpse in the crystal coffin.

Though he had little interest in Sha Xin's efforts to revive the 'Demon King', he couldn't help but suspect a connection to Xi Dao Ren, and it would be a shame to let Shi Zhan Feng take the crystal sphere.

However, if he were to intervene, he would be seen as trying to take advantage of the situation, and risk facing both Sha Xin and E He Bi together. Han Li was uncertain if he could escape, let alone defend himself.

As Han Li hesitated, his gaze caught Stone Piercing Void's shoulder subtly moving, as if trying to signal him.

Han Li transmitted his voice to Stone Piercing Void, "Stone brother, are you alright?"

Stone Piercing Void's shoulders moved once more, and after a pause, he replied, "I'm fine, brother... can you do me a favor?"

Han Li said, "Endure for a bit longer, and when they're distracted, I'll find a way to rescue you."

However, Stone Piercing Void swiftly countered, "No need to rescue me yet... please, you must take the heart from Shi Zhan Feng's hands. No matter what, he must not consume it, or else... the consequences will be catastrophic..."

Han Li inquired, "Stone brother, what is the purpose of that heart, and why is Shi Zhan Feng so desperate to obtain it?"

Stone Piercing Void's transmission grew more urgent, "I don't fully understand its purpose, but it's crucial to Shi Zhan Feng... perhaps even a key to helping him transcend the Heavenly Gate... if he consumes it and refines it within his body... you and I won't need to return to the Sacred Realm..."

Han Li's thoughts turned over, and before he could respond, his expression changed.

A dense, robust life force and a boundless, golden aura burst forth from within the golden cage.

Shi Zhan Feng had broken through the crystal sphere's seal and held the crimson heart, his eyes blazing with fervor.

As he was about to consume the heart, a sudden, loud explosion shook the air, accompanied by a deafening roar.

A figure emerged from the blood lake, creating a massive whirlpool that blew the golden cage asunder, shattering it into two halves. Han Li burst out of a massive silver electric glow, throwing a hook punch that heavily struck Shi Zhanfeng's chest.

"Plop..."

A dense, starry white glow suddenly erupted through his chest, directly creating a round, bloody cavity. A massive amount of dark red blood splattered out like rainwater.

Shi Zhanfeng's body, with this immense force, flew upwards and struck the dome above.

A deafening "Boom" sounded.

The underground dome violently shattered, shattering stone everywhere without any falling down, all pierced through the ground by the fierce aura. Only Shi Zhanfeng's body returned from the hollowed dome.

A massive blood wave splashed from the blood pool, and Shi Zhanfeng slowly stood up from the bloody water.

He didn't look at his chest, covered in blood, but stared at his empty hands, issuing a heartbreaking scream:

"No..."

On the other side of the Blood Lake, Han Li stood still.

He held a heart that jumped with each beat, revealing a thoughtful expression.

Others saw this and were shocked, and even Sha Xin was momentarily stunned.

E Mei, however, didn't pay attention to Han Li and Shi Zhanfeng's situation. During Sha Xin's momentary stun, her body transformed into a cyan smoke, appearing beside Sha Xin and then extending to the crystal coffin.

Sha Xin was shocked and attempted to stop her but failed.

E Mei flashed past Sha Xin and appeared beside the crystal coffin. Her eyes heated up, and with lightning speed, she grasped towards the corpse inside.

At this moment, a white bone awl suddenly emerged, sending an ear-piercing sound, as it thrust onto E Mei's wrist and knocked it off. It was Kun Yu once again.

"You're seeking death!"

E Mei's eyes had a cold glint after being obstructed twice by Kun Yu. Her hand transformed into a fist, swinging back at Kun Yu's awl, sending a dull, thunderous sound.

Bang!

The white bone awl shattered and flew in Kun Yu's direction and entered his chest. Kun Yu couldn't react and was knocked flying.

E Mei's fist flew Kun Yu away, then swung her other hand again towards the corpse in the coffin.

Just then, a dazzling golden light pillar descended from the sky. It distorted the air, sending a sharp whine as it headed towards E Mei's head.

E Mei snorted coldly, with the same fist that knocked Kun Yu away, striking towards the golden light. Her grasping hand didn't stop.

The golden light collided with E Mei's fist, producing a deafening thunderous sound, and the golden light erupted, spreading out in all directions.

E Mei halted her body movement, her foot sinking half a foot into the ground, a stunned look on her face.

Before she could adjust her body, a 4- to 5-zhang long golden tail swung out from the golden light. It struck E Mei with a deafening "Boom."

E Mei's body flew out, and the golden light vanished, only to reveal a 20- to 30-zhang long golden dragon puppet in the air.

Its dragon head shone brightly like solid gold, and on its head rested a pair of coral-like dragon horns. Its golden scales and sturdy dragon tail displayed its immense power. Its massive claws looked incredibly powerful.

In the golden light, a golden giant tiger, a golden turtle, and a golden bird appeared alongside the crystal coffin.

The three new puppets were no less impressive in appearance or aura compared to the dragon puppet. The four puppets released an undistinguished aura, similar to one another.

Sha Xin flew onto the golden bird's back, extending her crystalline threads into the four puppets.

Although her injuries had disappeared, her face was as white as snow. Blood flowed from the corner of her mouth, leaving a trail at her pale lips, incredibly noticeable.

E Mei's four puppets shot towards E Mei and positioned themselves between her and the crystal coffin.

"Indeed, the heavenly cage's four-image battle puppet lives up to its name, but with you injured, Shan Qing, you can't utilize your full strength. Let's see how much power you can muster," E Mei said with a cold laugh, unfazed.

With her statement, her figure blurred, and she charged forward once again.

(Situation unresolved.)

E Ji's hand flashed with a black light, and a long, heavy black sword suddenly appeared in his hand. The sword was not straight, but slightly curved, resembling a black dragon. Its body gave off a ferocious aura.

The sword body had many white patterns etched into it, forming a star map. The star map had over 200 sparkling stellar lights.

"Barbarian Dragon Sword!" Sha Xin's face darkened, his ten fingers turned into residual shadows, and four puppets turned into four golden shadows, flying towards E Ji.

E Ji's arm moved, and the massive black sword in his hand became a black sword aura, chopping towards the five puppets.

The two began to fight fiercely, with continuous explosions, like thunder booms.

The blood lake nearby churned up massive waves, and the entire cave shook.

E Ji's power was fully unleashed, with over a thousand spiritual acupoint lights opening, growing stronger as he fought. His Barbarian Dragon Sword was incredibly powerful.

Sha Xin, on the other hand, seemed to have weakened after being injured, his control over the puppets decreased, unlike their swift and agile movements in the Bloody Hall.

However, E Ji was still entangled by them, unable to get close to the crystal coffin.

Han Li stood next to the crystal coffin in the center of the lake, watching the intense fight between Sha Xin and E Ji. His pupils constricted.

Although Han Li's power had increased greatly, the battle between Sha Xin and E Ji made him feel their immense gap.

"You, human dog thief, return my heart!" A shout of anger echoed, as Shi Zhanfeng flew towards Han Li with bloodshot eyes.

His gaping chest wound had healed, and his arm had developed dark, cruel-looking patterns, emitting an icy and violent aura.

Han Li looked at the dark patterns, his eyebrows twitching.

Shi Zhanfeng's speed had increased by nearly half, his movements swift and deadly. In an instant, he arrived in front of Han Li, a massive fist pounding downwards.

A sound of "Shira" echoed, as a massive amount of dark energy exploded from his palm, transforming into a gigantic black fist that descended onto Han Li.

Han Li swung his own fist, countering the black fist. The air shook violently.

The black fist disintegrated, Shi Zhanfeng's face turned red, stumbling backwards. Han Li's body shook greatly, retreating three steps as his eyes flashed with an unusual color.

The power within the black fist was extraordinary, far surpassing Shi Zhanfeng's previous display of strength. A sharp, cold power coursed through Han Li's body, threatening to break through his defenses.

Just as this happened, two puppets materialized above Shi Zhanfeng.

The winged puppet flapped its four wings, unleashing dozens of white, feather-like blades that shot towards Shi Zhanfeng.

The other puppet's mouth opened wide, releasing nearly a dozen silver branch-like protrusions that emitted silver lightning, striking Shi Zhanfeng.

Shi Zhanfeng's lips curved into a mocking smile, as his body was enveloped in a black crystal membrane, safeguarding him.

The blades and lightning struck Shi Zhanfeng, but they were like gnats shaking a tree, disintegrating immediately, while Shi Zhanfeng's black membrane remained undamaged.

Shi Zhanfeng coldly snickered, extending a lightning-fast hand.

His arm's black energy expanded, transforming into a colossal, door-sized blade of dark energy that radiated pale light, slicing towards the puppets.

Xiao Zi's eyes widened in shock, about to order her puppets to retreat, but it was too late.

The black blade sliced into the puppets, dissecting them with ease.

"What?!" Xiao Zi's expression transformed in shock.

Han Li watched this unfold, an awed look in his eyes.

Sha Xin, still battling E Ji, glanced over and shouted: "Xiao Zi, don't bother with Shi Zhanfeng! The heart is what matters, we cannot let it fall into his hands!"

Xiao Zi's gaze flicked to Han Li, then she wavered for a moment before taking no action.

Sha Xin's eyes darkened, as she began to chant.

Xiao Zi's forehead showed a golden pattern, her eyes turning emotionless. She swiftly waved her hands.

Two golden orbs flew out of her palms, flashing golden light before expanding into two massive, golden human puppets.

The puppets were clad in golden armor, one hand holding a golden shield etched with turtle shell patterns, the other grasping a massive golden sword.

Their presence radiated incredible auras, surpassing the feathered and beast-bodied puppets, even rivaling Sha Xin's four element puppets.

"Miss Xiao Zi, I have no intention of taking the heart, nor do I wish to be your enemy! Please refrain from this!" Han Li beseeched.

Xiao Zi ignored him, ordering her puppets to action.

The two golden puppets stomped the ground, created massive shockwaves, and transformed into golden light, charging towards Han Li.

Their massive swords morphed into two blinding gold arcs, descending onto Han Li.

The sword struck before the light, a dual whirlwind of sword energy roared, piercing Han Li's skin. Han Li furrowed his brow, took a step to the side, and dodged the two incoming swords.

However, these two puppets were extraordinary, turning quickly to pursue Han Li, not losing a step. The large swords in their hands crisscrossed, striking downwards from left and right.

The two puppets also used their shields as weapons, smashing them towards Han Li, almost completely cutting off his surroundings.

At this moment, a cold laugh came from the side, and Shi Zhanfeng pounced once again.

He swung his hand once more, and a dense black light burst forth from his palm, transforming into a huge, black beast claw in mid-air. It seemed to be cast from iron and dropped towards Han Li, cutting off his only escape route.

Han Li's expression turned cold as he rapidly moved his heart into his chest, his body spinning swiftly. At the same time, a white glow enveloped his fists, which he then thrust out in all directions, creating a burst of white fist shadows.

Countless white fist shadows exploded like a peacock's open plumage, shooting towards the surroundings and producing ear-piercing whistles.

A series of loud booms erupted.

The two human-shaped puppets were each struck by dozens of fist shadows, their bodies quivering like sieves as they flew backwards.

The black beast claw above was also shattered by the white fist shadows, exploding apart.

However, Han Li's body was also severely shaken, his face pale as he took a step back.

At that very moment, Shi Zhanfeng's figure appeared behind him, his speed increased even further.

His body was enveloped by a layer of fast-moving black air, producing a faint, ear-piercing whistle. In his hand was a pitch-black war knife, transformed into a black streak that slashed towards Han Li's neck.

Han Li's brow furrowed, and his body suddenly dived forward, but his feet remained firmly rooted on the ground.

The black streak of light passed over his head, missing its mark.

Shi Zhanfeng didn't expect this, and his face changed color as he prepared to retreat.

However, Han Li's body was like a spring, rapidly becoming tense as he stood up. With a swift motion, he closed in on Shi Zhanfeng and hurled his elbow, its shadow appearing as he struck.

Shi Zhanfeng saw that he couldn't dodge in time, so he let out a loud shout, swinging his elbow to strike back. A dark pattern on his arm glowed brightly, faintly revealing the shape of a beast's claw, which collided with Han Li's elbow.

A crackling sound came from Shi Zhanfeng's left arm, his bones snapping. His body was sent flying backwards, a flicker of shock crossing his eyes.

However, he twisted his body in mid-air, heading towards the two human-shaped puppets in the distance.

The two puppets had already regained their footing, ignoring the approaching Shi Zhanfeng. With a powerful kick, they pounced towards Han Li once more, the large swords in their hands shining brighter, transforming into two golden sword qi that chopped downwards.

Han Li had initially wanted to chase after Shi Zhanfeng but was intercepted by the two puppets, forcing him to counterattack. He let out a deep breath and thrust out two fists.

Two large, white fist shadows shot out, crashing into the golden sword qi and producing a series of loud explosions.

The golden sword qi was easily dispersed, and the two puppets raised their shields to protect themselves.

Two loud clanging sounds rang out.

The fist shadows shattered, and the surface of the shields also flashed with golden light.

The puppets' bodies shook violently, taking a step back simultaneously.

At that moment, a golden light flashed between the two puppets, shooting towards Han Li's chest like lightning - a golden lance.

The one wielding the lance was none other than "Xiao Zi", who was now wearing a golden, tight-fitting battle armor that accentuated her curves. On the armor was inscribed a golden Peng bird pattern.

This pattern was incredibly lifelike, with every line radiating a dazzling golden light, appearing extraordinary.

Han Li's gaze shifted slightly, his hands joining together with a slapping sound as he grasped the tip of the golden lance, bringing it to a stop.

Xiao Zi let out a shout, and her golden armor suddenly burst forth with dazzling golden light, displaying over fifty Star Orbs that floated to the surface. Her body lifted off the ground, and a powerful force flowed into her through the armor.

With a fierce cry, she pulled on the lance with all her might, but the lance tip seemed to be held in place by an invisible force, refusing to budge.

"Miss Xiao Zi, do you truly have no impression of me?" Han Li gazed into Xiao Zi's eyes, transmitting his voice.

Xiao Zi's eyes remained expressionless, ignoring Han Li's words. The golden light on her armor intensified, and a bloody glow appeared on her face, as if she were preparing to unleash a powerful technique.

Han Li's eyes dimmed slightly as he sighed inwardly, his hands advancing to push Xiao Zi. She flew backwards, lance still in hand.

At that moment, a figure appeared behind Xiao Zi, Shi Zhanfeng's silhouette flashing into existence. A ferocious smile spread across his face as he transformed his black war knife into a black streak, chopping downwards towards Xiao Zi's head.

The black light on the knife danced, momentarily revealing the silhouette of a black, ancient beast. The black knife suddenly became over ten times heavier, and the air in front of it split apart with a ripping sound, creating a perfectly linear tear in space.

Xiao Zi was caught off guard, her body still flying backwards, and she was powerless to avoid the incoming knife.

Han Li saw "Xiao Zi" in a perilous situation, and his pupils suddenly contracted.

The 475 Xuan points on his body all emitted brilliant light, and his body transformed into a white light, making a desperate dash towards "Xiao Zi" just in time, and a fist struck towards the black war knife.

However, at that moment, the direction of the falling black war knife suddenly veered, narrowly avoiding Han Li's fist, and struck towards his neck.

At the same time, the ancient beast phantom on the knife released a low, muffled roar, and a bloodthirsty mouth bit towards Han Li's head.

A massive, crushing pressure threatened to overwhelming Han Li, weighing heavily on his mind, and the light from his Xuan points also dimmed.

Han Li took a deep breath, and another fist flashed out, striking the black war knife, and the surface of his body suddenly radiated a brilliant golden light. A golden giant ape phantom materialized behind him, charging towards the black ancient beast phantom.

Two deafening sounds shook the air.

The golden, white, and black lights burst out, a three-way explosion.

The entire cave trembled with the force, and the massive shockwave attracted the attention of Sha Xin and E Mo.

The entwining three-way lights formed a vortex that shook and trembled.

A figure was flung backward, crashing into the cave wall, and it was indeed Shi Zhanfeng.

His black war knife was broken, the black patterns on his body had dimmed significantly, his mouth was bloody, and his eyes were filled with shock and dismay. He turned around and fled towards the cave entrance.

"Don't go!"

A "whoosh" sound, Han Li's figure burst out from the exploding lights, his face enraged, and his figure flickered, turning into a white light phantom in pursuit of Shi Zhanfeng. He caught up with Shi Zhanfeng in a flash, and a fist crushed down.

A brilliant white light exploded from his fist, causing the air around him to violently shake and tremble. Han Li's fist brought the void with him, crushing it towards Shi Zhanfeng.

Shi Zhanfeng was terrified, his body releasing a brilliant starlight, and the black patterns on his body glowing, forming a black crystal membrane once more.

At the same time, his hands opened, and a gray shield was launched from his sleeve, emitting the light of 30 star points.

With a "whoosh" sound, the gray shield expanded ten times, blocking his front.

Just as Shi Zhanfeng finished setting up his defense, Han Li's fist descended.

A crisp "tearing" sound, the gray shield shattered upon contact with Han Li's fist, shattering like paper.

Shi Zhanfeng was drenched in cold sweat, his hands raised, intending to do something.

But suddenly, his mind was pierced by a sharp pain, as if stabbed by an ice pick. He let out a dull groan, his entire body stiffening.

As Shi Zhanfeng's body became paralyzed, Han Li's white fist struck his chest.

The black crystal membrane on Shi Zhanfeng's body resisted Han Li's fist, but it quickly shattered. A "punching" sound was heard, and Han Li's fist perforated Shi Zhanfeng's chest, striking out a massive bloody cavity, as blood spurted out in all directions.

The next moment, Shi Zhanfeng's body was sent flying, like a falling rock, crashing into the ground near the entrance of the underground space.

A thunderous sound shook the ground, and the impact caused the ground to tremble, like ripples on water. Pebbles and dust flew everywhere.

Shi Zhanfeng spat out a massive amount of blood, his body cracking, his black patterns fading quickly, and disappearing in an instant.

"My Black King bloodline...this is the most superior, true spirit bloodline power...how is this possible..." Shi Zhanfeng, on the verge of death, gazed at his pale arm, his eyes filled with incredulity.

Han Li's gaze was icy, intending to deliver a fatal blow.

At that moment, a white light flashed from the entrance passageway, dragging a trail of frigid white light in the void.

A "punching" sound was heard, the white light piercing through Shi Zhanfeng's head, a white bone spear pinning his body to the ground.

Shi Zhanfeng's face was shocked, his eyes losing their luster, and turning a dull gray.

The sudden turn of events caused everyone in the cave to shift their attention.

Sha Xin's mouth curled into a cold smile.

E Mo's heart sank, Shi Zhanfeng was his man, and his killing spelled trouble. He had only Liu Hua Furen left, and their side was vastly outnumbered.

A thought struck him, and his heart quickened, the white light emitted by his Xuan points growing brighter, like burning white flames. The black light on his brutal dragon sword also intensified, cutting towards the tiger-shaped puppet.

Sha Xin's eyes watched the scene unfold, a finger pointing.

The tiger-shaped puppet's body glowed with golden light, expanding in size, then opening its mouth.

Countless golden blades shot out, forming a massive golden storm, sweeping towards E Mo.

E Mo snarled, his brutal dragon sword's black light intensifying, cutting through the golden storm.

A "tearing" sound was heard, the golden storm splitting in two, the brutal dragon sword slowing momentarily, before striking the tiger-shaped puppet.

A deafening sound shook the air, the tiger-shaped puppet being flung into the air, creating an opening in the four symbol war puppet's attack circle. Sha Xin was shocked, and hastily controlled the other three puppets to respond.

However, after E Mo split the tiger-shaped puppet apart, not only did his movement not falter, but instead became even more fierce and vigorous, with the white light on his body becoming even more radiant. The barbaric dragon sword in his hand transformed into three massive black sword shades that slashed at the other three puppets.

Although the might of these three sword shades couldn't compare to the Heaven-Shattering strike earlier, they still managed to repel the other three puppets.

E Mo's body transformed into a white shadow and shot forward, looking as if he was about to break through the battle formation.

Just as he was about to, a silver shadow suddenly appeared, intercepting E Mo's path and blocking his way. It was a massive, seven-or-eight-zhang-tall silver giant ape puppet that clashed heavily with E Mo.

This sudden turn of events caught E Mo off guard, but he quickly retaliated by swinging his barbaric dragon sword sideways.

A black sword flash appeared, and the silver giant ape puppet was split in two with a hiss, but E Mo's movements also came to a pause.

Sha Xin saw this scene and was overjoyed, his ten fingers moving swiftly.

The four puppets immediately rearranged their formation and charged at E Mo once more.

In a flash of golden light, a dragon tail, a tiger claw, and a golden bird beak shot towards E Mo simultaneously, striking him in tandem.

E Mo let out a series of furious roars, and his barbaric dragon sword transformed into a ring of black sword light, shielding his body. However, he was still sent flying backward by the combined force of the attacks.

A figure appeared from the side and landed on the tiger-shaped puppet's back. It was Kun Yu, who had been blasted away earlier.

A massive hole had been blasted through his chest, but no blood flowed from the wound, which instead glowed with a metallic light. It seemed as though nothing had happened to him.

"Lord, you're injured, and controlling the four puppets alone is too exhausting. I'll take over the tiger-shaped puppet," Kun Yu said.

Sha Xin nodded in response, using a hand gesture to withdraw his control over the tiger puppet and hand it over to Kun Yu.

Although E Mo had been sent flying, he hadn't suffered any injuries. After stabilizing himself, he launched another attack.

However, now that Kun Yu was assisting him, the four puppets' strength increased greatly, and they were able to solidly block E Mo's attacks once more.

Meanwhile, Shi Chuan Kong lay paralyzed on the ground, but his gaze turned to Shi Zhan Feng's corpse, revealing a complex expression.

Liu Hua Furen gazed at the white bone spear, and her eyes lit up slightly.

"Who is it? Show yourself!" Han Li shouted, his eyes scanning the entrance. A intense killing aura erupted from his body.

"Hehe, it's me, Bone Qian Xun. Brother Li, please refrain from releasing such intense killing aura; I fear it may be too overwhelming for me," a white-robed woman walked in, laughing gently. It was indeed Bone Qian Xun.

"It's you? What brings you to this place?" Han Li raised an eyebrow.

"I simply stumbled upon this place by chance; I didn't follow you, Brother Li. In fact, I should thank you for your assistance; it helped me complete my mission," Bone Qian Xun said with a charming smile, as if she had anticipated Han Li's thoughts.

Han Li let out a soft snort but didn't press the matter further.

Even if Bone Qian Xun had been the one to kill Shi Zhan Feng, he was, after all, the crown prince of the Ye Yang Dynasty, and killing him would have meant endless trouble.

"Xun Er!" Liu Hua Furen's face lit up with joy when she saw Bone Qian Xun, and she hastened towards her.

Han Li's eyes observed this scene, and he vanished in an instant, only to reappear beside Shi Chuan Kong. A bright white light emanated from his hand as he struck Shi Chuan Kong's body.

"Stop!" Liu Hua Furen, who had seen this, cried out in alarm and turned around, but it was already too late.

A white glow enveloped Shi Chuan Kong's body, fluctuating with a series of dull sounds as he regained his freedom. He immediately leapt up.

"Many thanks, Brother Li, for saving me once again," Shi Chuan Kong bowed to Han Li.

Han Li casually waved his hand in response.

Liu Hua Furen, who had been watching from a distance of about a dozen zhangs, wore an expression of frustration, but a hint of cunning flashed in her eyes.

Han Li seemed to sense this, and he shot her a thoughtful glance before turning to look inside.

The three-colored light sphere had dispersed, and Xiao Zi's figure emerged from its center. However, she didn't continue to manipulate the puppets to attack. Instead, she stood there in a daze, her eyes gleaming with an unaccustomed spark, no longer as apathetic as before.

Han Li's heart stirred as he watched this scene.

Suddenly, the heart in his chest began to beat fiercely and, without warning, flew out from his bosom, transforming into a blood shadow that soared towards Bone Qian Xun.

Han Li's expression changed, and he gave chase.

Shi Chuan Kong, who had been watching from the side, followed closely behind Han Li.

Bone Qian Xun saw the heart flying towards her and, her face changing color, quickly dodged to the side.

But what happened next was unexpected!

The blood light didn't pay attention to Bone Qian Xun and, with a single flash, disappeared into the corpse of Shi Zhan Feng in the great pit.

Han Li's expression changed as he witnessed the scene, his thoughts racing with urgency.

Could it be that Shi Zhanfeng hadn't died, but had instead used a secret art to feign death, waiting for an opportunity to steal the heart?

As soon as this thought occurred to him, Han Li's anxiety grew, and he accelerated his speed by nearly half, instantly pouncing towards Shi Zhanfeng's corpse.

A fierce, overwhelming power swooped towards Shi Zhanfeng's head, about to shatter it.

However, just at this moment, a deafening "boom" resounded!

A dazzling, blood-red light erupted from Shi Zhanfeng's body, as a formless, boundless energy burst forth from the light, instantly sweeping across a radius of several dozen feet, not only dispersing Han Li's claw strike but also sending both Han Li and Shi Chongkong flying.

Han Li stumbled, landing more than a dozen feet away, his face slightly discolored.

Boom! Boom! Boom!

The blood-red light pulsed like a heartbeat, yet Shi Zhanfeng didn't revive as Han Li had speculated. Instead, his corpse rapidly withered, transforming into a desiccated corpse before Han Li's eyes.

Witnessing this scene, Han Li's eyes widened.

The heart slowly floated out of Shi Zhanfeng's corpse, suspended calmly in mid-air several feet above it, radiating vibrant, blood-red light.

However, the boundless energy had vanished without a trace.

Han Li's eyes sparkled, and he immediately flew forward once more.

Shi Chongkong also charged forward, reaching towards the heart.

Meanwhile, the tiny, purple-robed girl remained stationary, still not making a move.

Xiaozi, what are you doing? Why aren't you acting?" Sha Xin yelled angrily from a distance, her eyes fixed on the scene.

The tiny girl's body trembled, and she came to, looking at the heart as her hands lifted, ready to control the puppets.

Just then, a pained expression flashed across her face, and she clutched her head, collapsing to the ground.

Han Li beat Shi Chongkong to the heart, grabbing it in one swift motion, and then soared towards the tiny girl.

Sha Xin's eyes widened in alarm at this scene, and she hastily formed a hand seal, her fingertips gleaming with golden characters.

A golden light burst forth from the tiny girl's brow, and her expression turned cold once more. She grasped the golden halberd beside her and swung it, her other hand gesturing rapidly.

Layer upon layer of golden, glowing shadows emerged, carrying a golden aura, and swept towards Han Li.

At the same time, the two stationary puppets behind her suddenly sprang to life, charging forward.

Han Li's eyebrows furrowed, and he dodged the puppet's attack, ready to face the two puppets.

"It's enough, stop fighting each other." A voice abruptly resonated within Han Li's mind, and it belonged to Xie Dao.

Han Li reacted to Xie Dao's voice, his heart skipping a beat as he halted, withdrawing several dozen feet.

However, the two puppets also ceased their pursuit.

Han Li pondered Xie Dao's words, his gaze shifting towards Xiaozi and Sha Xin.

Xiaozi's expression remained cold and unchanging, but Sha Xin's face wore a surprised expression, her eyes locking onto Han Li's.

The two exchanged a glance, both detecting something unusual in each other's eyes.

Xie Dao, you've finally appeared. Where are you?" Han Li flew back several dozen feet and asked, his mind connected to Xie Dao.

I'm within the crystal coffin. Just now, my Wooden Heart absorbed a strand of blood lineage power, which allowed me to momentarily awaken. However, I don't have much time, so listen carefully to my next words. Xie Dao hastily replied, his voice urgent.

Han Li heard his words, and countless doubts emerged, but he didn't interrupt.

What I asked of you earlier, to complete a crucial task for my master... actually, my master is myself. My true identity is that of the former master of the Jilian Xian Realm. Many years ago, I was betrayed, gravely injured, and on the brink of death, so I crafted a Xian傀儡 and sealed a portion of my memories within it. I then experienced some events that led me to the lower realms, where I encountered you. Xie Dao continued rapidly.

Han Li heard his words, and his thoughts turned to his encounters with Huang Jinxi. A look of realization dawned on him.

Thanks to your protection, my divided soul safely arrived here, and my revival is at hand. Quickly fuse the Wooden Heart, the Primordial Crystal Core, and my corpse, and with the accumulated power of the immense, dense spiritual energy here, I can recondense a new physical body. After a while, I will be able to revive completely... The task I had you promise to assist me with is to guard this place and prevent anyone from disturbing me during this time... Xie Dao spoke, his voice gradually fading, until it disappeared.

Han Li heard Xie Dao's words, momentarily stunned, but he quickly recovered, his eyes regaining their clarity. He flew towards the crystal coffin at the lake's center.

Shi Chongkong gazed at the heart in Han Li's hand, hesitating to speak, and let out a soft sigh.

From a distance, He Qiong had long noticed the exchange between Han Li and Sha Xin, and upon witnessing the scene, he grew uneasy. "Liuhua, quickly stop that Leng Feiyu!" he shouted.

Liuhua glanced at He Qiong but didn't move.

He Qiong saw this and his anger flared. A faint, bloody glow emerged in his eyes, and a bloody aura erupted from his body, causing his presence to surge. He brandished the Wudong Sword, its black glow surging several times larger, letting out a deafening dragon roar.

As He Qiong readied to swing his sword, a sudden, shrill cry pierced the air, and two golden silhouettes charged forward, toward He Qiong. E Zhan's eyebrows furrowed, and he immediately dodged to the side while swinging his hand backwards. The Mánlóng sword transformed into a black sword shadow, slashing horizontally at the two wooden puppets.

The two human-shaped puppets reacted extremely quickly, their footsteps immediately adjusting as they continued to stab at E Zhan with the large swords in their hands. At the same time, they held up their shields to resist the Mánlóng sword.

Two loud cracking sounds echoed through the air.

The Mánlóng sword directly shattered the shields of the two human-shaped puppets and then slashed into their bodies, deeply embedding itself within them. However, the strength of this sword strike was completely exhausted.

These two human-shaped puppets had not lost their abilities, and they simultaneously threw away the large swords and shields in their hands. With a loud grunt, they clasped their hands together, tightly embracing the Mánlóng sword. At the same time, a golden light suddenly burst forth from their bodies, releasing a series of explosive fluctuations.

E Zhan's expression changed, and he shook twice, unable to shake off the two puppets. He hastily released the sword hilt and retreated backwards, his body shooting back like an arrow.

Two deafening roars shook the air, and two wheels of golden light appeared, followed by the emergence of a series of cracks in the nearby space.

The entire underground space began to shake violently, with countless rocks falling down, and the blood lake's surface erupted into massive waves.

A figure appeared several hundred meters away, and E Zhan's body shot out of the rubble, his face twisted in a grimace.

However, he gazed emotionlessly at the crystal coffin in the center of the lake, as well as Han Li, who was standing beside it. His eyes flickered with unknown thoughts.

At this moment, the four Xiang Zhàn warrior puppets flew towards him, surrounding him, with "Xiao Zi" sitting on top of the black turtle warrior puppet.

"E Zhan, the saying goes that one's path is broadened by many helpers, but narrowed by few helpers. You've committed heinous crimes, and today is the day you die," Sha Xin laughed coldly, raising her hand.

The four warrior puppets immediately pounced, unleashing a flurry of attacks that rained down on E Zhan.

Han Li quickly walked to the crystal coffin and carefully placed the heart into the skeleton's chest cavity.

The heart's blood light immediately brightened, and the holy skeleton also emitted a dazzling light, as if responding to each other.

Han Li then took out the golden orb and revealed a hint of hesitation on his face.

The heart was naturally placed in the skeleton's chest cavity, but where should the orb be placed? Should it be placed in the skeleton's dantian or head?

"Brother Li, the orb is the holy skeleton's original crystal nucleus. It needs to be merged with the heart to become one," a voice echoed in Han Li's mind, belonging to Liù Huā Furen.

Han Li looked up at Liù Huā Furen and nodded slightly, placing the orb on top of the heart.

The golden orb emitted a brilliant light and merged into the heart.

The originally crimson-colored heart was suddenly enveloped by a dazzling golden light, and its color changed rapidly, transforming into a pure golden color within several breaths. At the same time, it grew several dozen times larger, perfectly matching the massive skeleton.

The golden heart began to beat powerfully, overflowing with new life.

A massive golden light column erupted from the skeleton's body, shooting upwards with a deafening roar, as if it were a long-repressed scream of joy.

A vast and boundless aura exploded from the light column, causing the surrounding space to violently tremble.

Han Li's body was also repelled by this immense aura, and he stumbled backwards several steps before stabilizing himself. A hint of shock flashed in his eyes.

The blood lake immediately began to churn, with waves overflowing towards the crystal coffin, pouring into the skeleton's body, and flowing into the golden heart.

Blood lights began to burst forth from the heart, spreading throughout the skeleton's body.

The skeleton's skin rapidly produced numerous flesh buds, which merged together to form a layer of flesh and blood.

As the surrounding blood converged, the holy skeleton's flesh and blood rapidly increased...

At this time, the blood lake's edge was already in chaos, with half of the dome having collapsed. The sky above was visible, but it had already turned dark, with only starlight illuminating the area, devoid of any moonlight.

"You're seeking death, Lǐ Fēi Yǔ!" a loud shout tore through the night air.

The next moment, the entire blood lake violently shook, and Han Li's eyebrows furrowed as he turned to see E Zhan, whose eyes were wide with anger, staring in his direction. A mixture of shock and fury still lingered on his face.

Sha Xin's emotions were the exact opposite, and she was overjoyed in her heart. She shouted loudly, "Don't let him escape! He absolutely cannot be allowed to obstruct our master's plans!"

"Yes!" Kūn Yù and "Xiao Zi" responded in unison.

The two of them began to frantically chant incantations, their faces pale and bloodless.

The dragon-shaped warrior puppet, which was one of the four Heavenly Trigrams warrior puppets, sat in the east, its mouth spewing forth a deafening roar. The air was filled with swirling clouds and a scorching heat, which contained a powerful corroding aura.

The tiger-shaped warrior puppet crouched in the west, its mouth wide open, as a fierce gale howled out, carrying sharp, blade-like winds that swept across the area.

The black turtle warrior puppet guarded the north, spewing forth a green light that generated an immense water pressure, making it seem as if one was carrying a massive mountain on their back, or sinking into a swamp.

The Vermilion Bird warrior puppet hovered in the south, its body ablaze with fierce flames. As it opened its mouth to let out a long cry, a line of scorching flames shot out, incinerating everything in their path.

E Zhan had not expected that, after Sha Xin had given the Heavenly Trigrams warrior puppets' absolute killing array to her two subordinates, they would be able to unleash such powerful strength, completely suppressing him and making it impossible for him to escape for the time being.

E mo's heart was filled with anxiety, his eyes blazed with fury, and his skin had turned a deep crimson under the relentless assault of the Four Images Great Array.

"Halt!"

With a loud bellow, he crouched down like a coiled bow, storing up energy before suddenly bursting upwards, attempting to break through the Four Images Great Array from above.

However, the moment he leaped up, the Xuan Wu's invisible force burst forth, its power surging wildly. The Zhu Que above it fiercely spewed flames, which adhered to E mo's body, searing his internal organs.

E mo's brow was furrowed deeply, but he was undaunted, his only thought being to escape and prevent the resurrection of the saint's corpse.

Just as he was gathering strength, Sha Xin raised his hand, and a golden arc shot out from his palm, emitting a "zila" crackling sound. A golden armored puppet emerged, its entire body radiating electric light.

The puppet was robust and imposing, about five feet tall, with an intricate network of mystic symbols on its armor. Its face was completely concealed behind a thick mask, and in its hand was a massive golden shield.

As soon as the golden puppet appeared, it sprang forward, crashing down on E mo from above like a falling mountain, smashing into him just as he was trying to break through the Zhu Que's flames.

"You stupid fool, get out of my way!"

E mo roared, hurling a fist at the puppet, but it had already pressed the shield against its chest, meeting E mo's blow head-on.

The impact produced a massive shockwave, echoing through the air with a low rumble, its power rivaling that of the great mountains. E mo felt a massive energy coursing through his arm as the puppet countered his blow, forcing him to stop in mid-air, then sending him crashing to the ground.

The golden puppet was also sent flying, its body thrashing about in mid-air, but before it could fall, a new gold shadow appeared in the Four Images Killing Array, untethered by the four symbols' influence. It flashed back and forth beside E mo, its speed breathtaking.

As soon as E mo landed, he threw a punch at the air behind him, sending a massive shockwave through the void, expelling the blistering fog and wind blades. However, the golden shadow darted past him, immediately appearing above his head, its body transforming into a golden puppet.

This time, however, it was only three feet tall and wore light golden armor, its hands grasping a massive golden sword. The blade was almost as long as its own body, and the puppet lunged forward with a swift, powerful thrust.

E mo spun around, his fists swinging towards the puppet, the force erupting from his body spurring the power within. An uncontrollable explosion of starlight erupted from his fist, a burst of energy forcing back the boundless swathing fog and wind blades as if he were repelling the approaching darkness.

The puppet quickly changed tack, adopting a defensive stance as it raised the blade, letting out a long whooshing sound as E mo's mighty force struck the sword, sending the puppet tumbling backwards into the void.

By the time it managed to break free of E mo's attack, the shield-wielding puppet had already repositioned itself and safely received it in hand. As they moved in tandem, the agile puppets merged into a single, cohesive entity.

"Hmph! You've pushed me this far? I'll make you all pay!" E mo snarled in anger.

With a sudden crackle, he pressed two fingers to his brow, meeting a bright crimson hue blazing near his forehead, casting fierce licks of red light that undulated until his aura took on a drastic transformation.

"Quickly! Full strength, suppress him – absolutely cannot let him get away...!" Sha Xin exclaimed as he saw E mo's transformation.

While this happened, Han Li watched from next to the water crystal coffin, observing Sha Xin as he shouted.

But next to E mo, a sudden change occurred! An unforeseen shift, E mo's entire body sounded loudly resonating sounds at every point, but instead of a tranquil snowy-white glow, his meridians flared radiated massive red lights and an intimidating red darkness erupted. The skin was even more bizarre as large quantities of black veins crisscrossed his arms making them writhe around grotesquely.

The air swelled around him as tremendous pressure turned to fierce red mist flowing from outside, crushing the surrounding Four Images Great Array power into him.

Before anyone could resist, E mo jumped once again, but he stood after using a horse-stance on the ground.

The sound resonated like thunderclap exploding and space began shuddering with rapid and constant collisions of explosive booms... The ground beneath Er Mi's feet suddenly trembled violently before collapsing in on itself, with the surrounding earth exploding outward and sending countless massive boulders flying in all directions.

In an instant, the area within a radius of several hundred feet was reduced to dust, while the surrounding earth beyond was reduced to a scene of intense friction, transforming into a sea of fire that swept across the land.

The four War Puppets of the Four Cardinal Directions were caught off guard and failed to dodge in time, stumbling backward as their bodies began to crack and shatter.

The Sword Puppet dodged behind the Shield Puppet, its body nimble and quick. The Shield Puppet, however, was knocked flying by the incoming wave of energy.

Throughout the Blood Lake, explosions continued to ring out, sending waves of blood several dozen feet high crashing towards the Holy Remains at its center.

Han Li's brow furrowed as the over four hundred acupuncture points on his body lit up. His body spun rapidly, and his arms trembled as he unleashed a punch like thunder.

The sound of the explosion shook the air!

Layer upon layer of dense fist silhouettes appeared, resembling a starry sky that pressed down on the surroundings, managing to push back the incoming blood waves and barely holding back the invading storm.

After a moment, all the commotion gradually subsided.

The golden palace at the top of the dome had completely collapsed, revealing the night sky.

Han Li's hands clenched into fists as he swept his gaze across the surroundings, taking in the desolate scene before him. The four War Puppets of the Four Cardinal Directions had been completely destroyed, their fragments mixed in with the rubble. The two Golden Armored Puppets were nowhere to be seen.

Just then, Han Li's pupils constricted as he spotted a lithe, feminine figure half-hidden amongst the rubble. Her face was exposed, and her beauty was breathtaking.

Her face was like white jade, and her eyes sparkled like water.

It couldn't be anyone else but Zi Ling.

Han Li's body flashed, and he appeared beside the woman, sweeping away the rubble and lifting her into his arms.

Looking at the unconscious Zi Ling, whose lower abdomen was pierced by flames and rubble, with blood trickling from her mouth and her brow furrowed in pain, Han Li felt a pang in his heart. If only he had recognized her earlier, she wouldn't have had to suffer like this.

As he thought this, Han Li leapt into the air, heading towards the other side of the Blood Lake.

After a few leaps, he landed beside Liu Tianzi and the others, gently laying Zi Ling down. He produced a medicinal pill from his robes and fed it to her, then turned to Liu Tianzi and said, "Please take care of her for a moment."

Liu Tianzi's expression was solemn, and she nodded without saying a word.

Bone Shatters, who lay nearby, gazed at Zi Ling with a complex look in his eyes.

Shi Chongxin, whose restraints had been removed by Liu Tianzi, was severely injured and could only sit on the sidelines, unable to participate in the fight.

"Thanks," Han Li said, before leaping towards the other shore.

He saw Er Mi approaching, his body radiating a purple-red glow, a blood mist surrounding him, as he grasped the neck of the already deceased Kun Yu.

Han Li's gaze swept over the scene, taking in Kun Yu's mangled body, his dantian exploded into a bloody crater, his head twisted to one side.

"Kid, everything has been part of my plan, but you're an anomaly! You've been disrupting my plans since the Weeping Blood Array. I must say, I admire your unorthodox methods, and I would have taken you as my disciple if you hadn't revived that corpse. Alas, today you must die..." Er Mi casually tossed Kun Yu's corpse aside, slamming it into a nearby stone wall.

"Er City Lord's offer is generous, but I, Li, will repay it with interest..." Han Li retorted, his voice cold and menacing.

As soon as he finished speaking, Han Li had already activated his Feathered Dragon Scales technique, disappearing from the spot in an instant.

Er Mi sneered, reacting to Han Li's disappearance by striking the air beside him.

A massive fist shook the air, as Er Mi's blow was so powerful that it caused the sound of thunder.

In the same instant, a golden light appeared beneath Er Mi's fist, but instead of Han Li, it was the Golden Armored Puppet holding a massive shield that materialized.

The shield rippled like water, as the gold-colored ripples overlapped, creating a sonic boom that shook the air.

The puppet, taking advantage of the momentum, used Er Mi's own strength against him, allowing it to withstand the blow.

The two of them stood frozen, facing off against each other.

At the same time, a slim figure suddenly flipped out from behind the golden shield, like a nimble golden monkey, directly leaping over E Tui's head, holding a huge golden sword in his hand, and fiercely slashing down at his neck.

The golden greatsword was covered in dense star holes, and the moment it slashed down, the star power contained within it almost simultaneously erupted, making it seem as if the sword was enveloped in a layer of serrated sword energy.

However, when the golden sword slashed down, the star power that burst out collided with the layer of blood mist covering E Tui's body, causing sparks to fly and a series of sharp, ringing sounds to explode.

Although the sword's momentum was extremely fierce, it couldn't break through the layer of blood mist and couldn't cut through at all.

"Trivial tricks!" E Tui said disdainfully.

As soon as he finished speaking, the fist that was slamming into the golden shield suddenly retracted, and when it struck again, his entire right arm seemed to have suddenly thickened, the bulging muscle lines like carved with a blade, filled with explosive power.

With a loud bang!

E Tui's fist slammed into the golden shield.

On the huge shield, star holes flickered wildly, sending out layer upon layer of impact force.

However, E Tui crouched down, letting the force wash over him, and directly sent the puppet holding the sword behind him flying out.

At the same time, his right fist struck the golden shield again, and before the sound waves could rebound, his left fist followed, slamming heavily into the surface of the golden shield.

There was a loud rumbling sound!

E Tui's fists were like a storm, continuously pounding on the shield.

The sound waves that should have been rebounding off the golden shield were instead being pounded down, accumulating and compressing on the shield's surface.

In just an instant, the shield's limit was breached.

A deafening explosion rang out.

The golden shield burst apart with a loud bang, and an incomparably powerful force erupted, directly blasting the puppet holding the shield away.

E Tui retreated a few steps, his legs sinking into the ground, stabilizing himself.

At this moment, Han Li's figure seemed to be unaffected by the storm's impact, stepping on air, his entire body like a leaf in the wind, his feet slamming, he flashed a few times and arrived at E Tui's head.

He saw him flip over and dive, his body's Heavenly Demon Suppressing Prison Skill operating at full power, more than four hundred mysterious holes all over his body lighting up, and he fiercely slammed a fist towards E Tui's Baihui acupoint on the crown of his head.

At the end of his fist, star power gathered, condensing into a streak of white fist shadow that seemed to be solid, the surface sparkling, as if inlaid with a piece of void star, the power contained within it even more astonishing.

Although E Tui had been paying attention to Han Li's movements, he still didn't expect him to make a move at this moment, and in his panic, he couldn't make more defenses, and could only tilt his head fiercely, operating his cultivation technique to the limit, to withstand this blow.

Han Li's fist grazed past E Tui's head, but the snow-white fist shadow still left a distinct imprint on his face as it heavily slammed onto his shoulder.

With a loud bang!

The ground under E Tui's feet exploded, countless fragments of rock flying up and turning into dust.

As for him, he fell to one side, his entire body buried in the rubble.

Han Li didn't pause at all, his arms shook, and fist shadows like meteors rained down, a series of chaotic explosions ringing out, the earth shaking greatly, and dust spreading.

Lady Liu Hua watched this scene from afar, and her eyes also flashed with amazement.

As the earth continued to crumble, Han Li and E Tui's figures fell into a deep pit underground, no longer visible.

After a while, a loud rumble came!

Han Li's figure suddenly flew out from underground, flying into the sky, and fell outside.

Immediately afterwards, a figure covered in purple-red followed closely, it was E Tui.

His body had wounds all over, looking bloody, but in fact they were only superficial injuries, not important at all, but being suppressed by Han Li and madly beaten into the ground like that, made him furious.

After E Tui emerged from the ground, he landed and looked at Han Li who was stumbling to his feet not far away, and sneered, "No wonder you kid can have such achievements, it turns out you also cultivated the Heavenly Demon Suppressing Prison Skill, I just don't know which statue you have on you."

After the previous exchange, Han Li naturally could also see that E Tui had similarly cultivated the Heavenly Demon Suppressing Prison Skill, and his cultivation was far above his own.

"I wonder which statue Lord E has cultivated?" Han Li spat out a mouthful of blood foam and smiled back.

"The four statues were deliberately scattered by the Demon Lord back then, I only got two of them, I think the one you have is either the first or the fourth, either way, it's fine!" E Tui said greedily.

"How about we swap them?" Han Li suddenly raised his eyebrows and said.

"Haha... at this time, Fellow Li, don't joke around, okay?" E Tui heard the words and laughed, then said.

As soon as his voice fell, the ground under his feet suddenly shattered, and a golden figure silently charged out, his arms slipped under E Tui's armpits, and he fiercely clasped upwards, tightly clamping him.

The golden figure was none other than the shield puppet that lost its shield, and the sound of its gears turning on its body kept ringing, the golden armor on its body actually split open, like a golden hoop, binding E Tui.

On the golden hoops, dense runes were packed, and the imprisoning power was incomparably strong. At the same time, the sword-wielding puppet abruptly emerged from the ground, discarded its sword, and leaped to the position in front of E'kuī's chest. The puppet's body also emitted a clanging sound as the golden armor on its body split and fused with the shield-wielding puppet.

"Rebel, die!" A frenzied roar came from the distance. It was Sha Xin's enraged shout.

Before he finished speaking, the runes on the two golden-armored puppets burst into dazzling light, turning into a blinding white glow that exploded with a boom.

"Rumble..."

A deafening sound rang out, and under the night sky, it seemed as if a scorching sun had risen, illuminating the entire sky with a blinding light that made it impossible to open one's eyes.

Han Li was already aware of this and had rapidly retreated, avoiding the blast.

The violent shockwave swept through the sky and earth, making it impossible for anyone to see what was happening.

After a while, the turmoil gradually subsided, and the dust dispersed.

Han Li saw that where he had been standing, there was now a huge, deep black pit.

E'kuī stood alone at the bottom of the pit, his clothes tattered and his skin an incomparably dark black. However, it was not the kind of charred black from being burned by intense flames, but a wrinkled, eerie dark gloss.

On the contrary, the jujube-red mark between his eyebrows had now turned snow-white.

"Hehe..."

E'kuī emitted waves of eerie laughter that made people's hearts palpitate. His figure turned into a wisp of green smoke and disappeared from where he was.

In the next instant, a loud rumble came from a great distance away. Sha Xin's figure was smashed into the high sky.

E'kuī's dark figure closely pursued, throwing out a hundred punches in the blink of an eye.

"Boom boom boom..."

Sha Xin's body continuously exploded, like a puddle of mud falling from the sky, his life uncertain.

"His speed is faster, and his power is stronger..." Han Li watched this scene with an extremely solemn expression.

"Don't worry, it's your turn!" E'kuī landed and turned to look at Han Li, saying slowly.

His voice seemed to have changed, making people feel extremely uncomfortable hearing it.

In the next instant, Han Li's pupils shrank sharply. His toes fiercely kicked off the ground, and his figure rapidly retreated backward.

However, his vision still suddenly blurred. That black figure had already caught up.

E'kuī's eyes were filled with bloodshot veins, and his sanity seemed to have dissipated. He raised his fist, and starlight exploded like the scorching sun, blasting straight towards Han Li's chest.

Han Li dared not to be careless in the slightest. He secretly activated the Heaven Slaying Prison Technique while also mobilizing the bloodline power within his body.

The profound light on his arms suddenly brightened. The muscles of his arms swelled up as if inflated, like two city gate doors, blocking in front of him.

At the same time, Han Li suddenly felt a very strange sensation. His arms seemed to have gained an extra special power. It was different from when he used the True Spirit Bloodline power and activated the Heaven Slaying Prison Technique before, yet it seemed to be faintly related.

Boom!

Before he could figure it out, an extremely violent force had already rushed over, crashing into his arms.

Han Li's arm bones shook violently. He felt an immense pressure accompanied by sharp pain suddenly assault him, as if they were about to shatter.

Then, his body was sent flying backwards. He left a thousands-of-zhang-long, nearly hundred-zhang-wide trench on the ground before crashing into a rock wall and stopping.

The entire rock wall, hundreds of zhang high, shattered with a rumble. Rolling stones smashed down, burying Han Li within.

Han Li felt his arms go numb. He moved them a bit, but they were not broken.

At this moment, E'kuī was utilizing the most dangerous Star Blood Ignition technique of the Blood Ignition Secret Art. This technique grew more backlash the longer it was used, so he naturally wanted to end the battle quickly. He wasn't willing to give Han Li a single moment to breathe, already chasing him and attacking once more.

His fist was like a violent storm, continuously striking the rubble. The rumbling sounds were like rolling black thunder, shocking the heavens.

The already shattered mountain wall now thoroughly turned into dust.

From the dust, a fierce roar suddenly rang out. A mountain-like giant ape with golden fur burst out from within. It raised an incomparably huge fist and smashed it towards E'kuī's head.

E'kuī's entire body was not even as large as the giant ape's fist, but he still reached out with a punch.

Boom!

A huge explosive sound rang out, like the eruption of a volcano. A violent force burst out, carrying a shockingly powerful force that even surprised Han Li himself as it surged towards E'kuī.

A flash of surprise flickered in E'kuī's eyes. His body was actually sent flying back by the giant ape's punch.

Han Li wasn't in a good state either. His massive body fell backwards, crashing to the ground once more.

The fallen giant ape then rolled and transformed into a Thunder Roc as silver electric threads surged out from its body. It spread its wings and swiftly glided close to the ground.

"Trying to escape... Where do you think you're going?" E'kuī's pupils contracted as he let out a furious shout.

As soon as E'wa finished speaking, his figure suddenly flashed, like a black lightning bolt, and with a "chi la" sound, he appeared out of thin air in front of Han Li, reaching out his palm towards Han Li's neck.

Han Li seemed to have expected this, and in the instant E'wa reached out, he stopped his momentum and avoided E'wa's attack. He suddenly turned back, his speed doubling, and flew towards the blood lake.

As the lightning fell, just before it reached the surface of the lake, all the silver light suddenly converged, and Han Li's figure reappeared, with E'wa closely following behind.

"Kid, you really have a lot of tricks up your sleeve!" E'wa sneered and attacked again.

Seeing this, Han Li actually retreated instead of advancing, and went straight to meet E'wa.

He silently activated the Heaven Slaying Prison Suppression Technique, and the true spirit bloodline in his body also stirred. The Mountain Giant Ape and Xuanwu bloodlines were simultaneously stimulated. One of his arms suddenly swelled, and steel needle-like golden hairs emerged. On the back of his hand, pieces of cyan light armor appeared.

He punched out with a burst of starlight, which was suppressed under the Xuanwu turtle shell, and clashed with E'wa's punch.

A loud bang sounded.

Han Li felt his arm hurting and splitting, and his figure only retreated a step back, not being blown away. On the other hand, E'wa also took a step back.

Under the urging of the Heaven Slaying Prison Suppression Technique, the true spirit bloodline could burst out with such strong power, which was beyond his expectation.

E'wa's face tightened, and his eyes showed more solemnity.

But then, he took a step forward and suddenly appeared in front of Han Li. A layer of crystal light emerged on his dark arm, and he swung a fist at Han Li.

This punch had no sound of wind or thunder, nor any force of a thousand pounds. It looked light and floating, but its speed was extremely fast.

Han Li was caught off guard and had to activate the power of the Xuanwu bloodline to block with his arm.

Before the tortoise shell pattern on his arm could condense, it was shattered by E'wa's punch, and his whole body was sent flying backwards.

His figure slid across the surface of the blood lake, stirring up thousands of waves of blood, and crashed down beside Ziling.

Seeing this, E'wa did not continue to pursue, but walked on the waves and quickly arrived at the center of the blood lake.

He looked at the sacred corpse lying on the blood-colored crystal stone slab, his eyes revealing a complex expression of reminiscence, hatred, and unwillingness. He formed his fingers into a blade shape and suddenly inserted it towards the heart position of the sacred corpse.

At this moment, the complex patterns engraved on the blood-colored crystal stone slab suddenly lit up, and a layer of blood-colored light, as if it were solid, emerged from it, firmly supporting his palm, preventing him from stabbing down.

At the same time, a loud bang suddenly came from the shore of the blood lake, and Han Li's figure shot out again, rushing towards this side.

At this moment, he had already urged the Heaven Slaying Prison Suppression Technique to the extreme. More than four hundred Xuangliaos all over his body lit up, and almost all the true spirit power in his body was activated.

Behind him, the Mountain Giant Ape, Silver-Winged Thunder Roc, True Dragon, Sky Phoenix, Xuanwu... One by one, the true spirit phantoms appeared out of thin air and then entered his body one after another. Although his figure did not change, the aura on his body changed completely.

Lady Liu Hua looked at this strange scene with no expression on her face, but a hint of admiration flashed deep in her eyes.

Gu Qianxun and the others were also startled.

E'wa also noticed the changes in Han Li at this moment. His palm suddenly withdrew, and without saying a word, he gave up on the sacred corpse and retreated a thousand feet back.

But then, his figure suddenly rose again and rushed towards Han Li.

At the same time, he seemed to have stimulated some kind of demonic bloodline power in his body. There was a series of crackling sounds on his body, two white bone spikes grew on his forehead, his spine bulged upwards, and his vertebrae protruded, piercing through his skin and becoming visible.

As his appearance changed, the aura on E'wa's body became more and more fierce. The blood mist overflowing from his body surface became extremely turbid, and a strong smell of blood seeped out from it.

As he rushed forward, his figure was slightly hunched, his posture different from that of a human, but his speed was extremely fast.

Everyone only saw a blurred afterimage, which suddenly collided with Han Li's body.

A dragon roar and tiger howl-like beast roar sounded!

At the end of Han Li's fist, the star power gathered from the true spirit bloodline burst out, turning into a blinding white light, and collided with the overwhelming bloody aura.

Boom!

A white star and a blood-colored sun exploded at the same time.

The sky was filled with starlight and rolling blood qi, which stirred and dissolved each other. The two violent forces rose upwards at the same time, venting the power into the void above.

Rumble!

High in the sky, the wind and clouds changed dramatically, rumbling continuously, and the spatial cracks that burst out crisscrossed and could not disappear for a long time.

Then, on the edge of the blood lake, a loud shout rang out.

E'wa, who was in a stalemate with Han Li, suddenly focused his eyes, and the fist that was rushing forward suddenly pressed down. An even stronger force burst out again.

Han Li, who was already struggling to hold on, had already reached the peak of his true spirit bloodline and the Heaven Slaying Prison Suppression Technique's operation, with no possibility of further improvement. At this moment, he finally spat out a mouthful of blood, and his fist's momentum dissipated.

A blood-colored aura condensed and turned into a huge fist shadow, heavily blasting Han Li. Boom!

Han Li's body was immediately sent flying backwards like a kite with its string cut, drawing a line of blood in the blood lake as he slammed into its depths.

The figure of E Xiu leaped up and descended from the sky, crashing into the blood lake. With both fists swinging, he frenziedly punched down into the bloody water, strike after strike.

The blood lake shook incessantly, its entire surface quickly receding, yet Han Li's figure was nowhere to be seen.

"Brother Li..." Shi Chuan Kong's face was deathly pale as he murmured.

Gu Qian Xun averted his gaze, unable to bear watching any longer. Liu Hua Madam also let out a long sigh.

Even the unconscious Zi Ling couldn't help but tightly knit her brows, appearing particularly pained.

...

At this moment, deep in the blood lake, Han Li felt his body being continuously struck by towering mountains and great peaks. All the bones in his body seemed to have shattered. He couldn't even struggle to dodge.

What was worse, he felt those punches raining down not only on his body, but also causing his sea of consciousness to shake violently. His divine sense was already somewhat scattered and his consciousness was becoming blurred.

The True Extreme Membrane on his body had long been shattered. The star power he had gathered with the last of his strength was also rapidly dissipating and draining away.

Only now did he realize that the gap between himself and E Xiu was ultimately too vast.

The moment of conclusion had finally arrived...

"Friend Li..." At this moment, a soft call echoed in his mind.

The voice seemed somewhat like Xie Dao Ren, yet also unfamiliar. Han Li wanted to respond but seemed unable to even gather his divine sense.

"Friend Li, I will lend you my Original Spirit Power. Do not resist." Another soft call.

Then, the sacred corpse lying on the blood-colored crystal stone board suddenly opened its eyes and came to life.

Its hands quickly formed a strange hand seal. A finger pointed at its own heart, then with a raise of the wrist, a strand of golden light flowed out from within, condensing at the fingertip and transforming into a golden pellet.

With a casual flick of the finger, the golden pellet turned into a streak of golden light, abruptly flashing and shooting into the blood lake.

"This is bad!"

E Xiu saw this and hastily waved his hand to block, but the golden pellet seemed to be guided, bypassing his fingers and directly entering Han Li's forehead.

"What is that...?" Liu Hua Madam witnessed this, utterly astonished.

"It's Immortal Spirit Power, it's Immortal Spirit Power..." Shi Chuan Kong sensed the aura, his expression drastically changing, crying out in shock.

Gu Qian Xun was filled with confusion, seemingly unfamiliar with this object.

At this moment, deep within the blood lake, blood suddenly surged, as if the first rays of the rising sun. Brilliant golden light gushed out from within.

E Xiu's gaze changed.

He found that his fists had become incomparably slow. In the surrounding void, there seemed to be countless invisible threads, like a woven net binding him, making his movements sluggish.

What shocked him even more was that his thoughts seemed to be slowing down immensely. By the time he realized this, it was already too late.

A massive hollow golden wheel had somehow appeared behind him at some point. The strands of time law power on its surface flowed like water waves, firmly shackling him in place.

E Xiu's strength was beyond doubt. Even being restrained by the True Word Treasure Wheel at such close range, his movements weren't completely sealed. When he sensed something amiss behind him, he even attempted to turn around and shatter the treasure wheel.

However, how could Han Li give him such an opportunity?

With a crackling electric sound.

A streak of golden lightning abruptly flashed. A Green Bamboo Wasp Cloud Sword that had been suppressed in Han Li's body for a long time finally broke free, carrying what seemed like reborn joy as it shot straight towards E Xiu before him.

Due to the extremely close distance between the two, almost instantly, the tip of the Green Bamboo Wasp Cloud Sword pierced into E Xiu's lower abdomen.

But E Xiu's physical strength was truly unimaginable. The power of a single Green Bamboo Wasp Cloud Sword was quite limited. It barely penetrated the outer wall of his dantian before it could advance no further.

At this moment, a roar sounded from underwater. Golden light shone from Han Li's palm, gathering the last remnants of his Immortal Spirit Power and physical strength, all of it slamming onto the sword hilt.

With a soft 'chi' sound.

The Green Bamboo Wasp Cloud Sword finally pierced through E Xiu's entire lower abdomen, directly nailing into his dantian.

"Zi la la..." A streak of golden electric light abruptly flashed. A thunderous explosion suddenly rang out.

A long, miserable cry escaped E Xiu's mouth. A bloody hole burst open in his dantian, from which rose a wisp of charred black smoke.

Immediately after, the blood light in his eyes began to recede, returning to their original color. The dark light on his body also gradually dissipated, but the protruding bones did not retract. His body stumbled back three steps before falling over onto his back.

Han Li struggled to stand up, staggering forward, raising his hand to pull out the Green Bamboo Bee Cloud Sword that had pierced into E Wu's dantian, his brows tightly furrowed as he swept the sword horizontally, cutting off half of E Wu's head.

At this moment, he also felt a sense of emptiness, and the True Word Treasure Wheel and the Green Bamboo Bee Cloud Sword both flashed with light and returned to his body on their own.

Han Li was covered in blood, his body in tatters, but he looked at the distant Purple Spirit with a smile on the corner of his mouth, his legs went soft, and he collapsed to the ground.

Madame Six Flowers, Bone Qiuxun, and Shi Chuankong all witnessed this scene with shocked expressions.

"E City Lord... E Wu... just like that... died?" Bone Qiuxun murmured to herself.

Madame Six Flowers did not speak, but silently nodded her head.

After the shock, Shi Chuankong couldn't help but let out a long breath and collapsed to the ground.

Han Li barely managed to sit cross-legged, took a deep breath, and closed his eyes.

At this moment, the golden elixir in his body quickly shrank and disappeared, and the immortal spiritual power in his body once again rapidly became stagnant.

He took the opportunity while the immortal spiritual power in his body could still circulate to hurriedly take out some healing elixirs from the Flowing Branch Space.

His healing elixirs had almost been exhausted, and how could the elixirs in Jilei Empty Realm compare to the elixirs outside?

After taking out enough elixirs, Han Li's eyes flashed, as if remembering something, and he reached into his arms.

A black light flashed in his hand, and he pulled out a black statue, which was the statue he had obtained from Zhaogu True Man that day.

Just as he finished doing all this, the golden elixir in Han Li's body completely disappeared, and the immortal spiritual power in his body once again became completely still.

He did not pay attention to this matter, took an elixir and swallowed it, and his injuries quickly healed.

"Fierce Dao friend, are you alright? I didn't expect you to have such strength, even E Wu is no match for you." Shi Chuankong came over and asked.

"It's okay." Han Li waved his hand indifferently, stood up and came to the side of Purple Spirit, carefully examining her condition.

Seeing that she was not seriously injured, he finally breathed a sigh of relief, then turned around and came to E Wu's corpse, his divine sense scanning over it, but his brows furrowed.

E Wu's body was empty, with nothing on it.

"How could this be?" Han Li was greatly surprised.

Storage magic treasures could not be used in Jilei Empty Realm, so everyone carried a lot of items on their bodies, such as elixirs and weapons, which were absolutely indispensable. How could E Wu's body be empty? Could it be that he lost them during the intense battle earlier?

His gaze turned and fell on a bone-white ring on E Wu's left hand.

The ring seemed to be made of some kind of bones, emitting a faint white light, and it did not look like an ordinary object.

Han Li pondered for a moment and took the ring off.

"Not bad eyesight. That is the Starry Sky Ring that I refined for E Wu using the bones of a Starry Sky Beast as the base, supplemented by starry sky restrictions and space restrictions, which can be used with the power of the stars." Madame Six Flowers' voice came over.

Upon hearing this, Han Li glanced at Madame Six Flowers, silently urging the star power in his body, pouring it into the bone ring, while also probing it with his divine sense.

The bone ring floated up with a layer of white light, resisting his divine sense.

Han Li's star power from the Mysterious Orifice crashed into the white light, and soon a soft "crack" sound was heard, the white light shattered, and his divine sense entered the bone ring.

The space inside the ring was not large, only about two or three meters in size, much smaller than any ordinary storage magic treasure outside, but since immortal spiritual power could not be used in Jilei Empty Realm, such a storage magic treasure was extremely precious.

Inside the storage space were piles of various items, elixirs, weapons, beast cores, and some books and classics.

Han Li's divine sense scanned over these items, quickly searching, and soon his eyes lit up, falling on a corner of the storage space, where there were two statues.

He was very familiar with these two statues, which were similar to the two Heavenly Tyrant Prison Skill statues in his hand, and it was clear that they were the remaining two.

Han Li was secretly pleased, but did not take them out to avoid attracting attention.

He withdrew his divine sense and put the storage bone ring on his own hand, then put the two statues and the elixirs on his body into it.

At this moment, a splash of blood shot out from the nearby blood lake, and a beam of blood light quickly wrapped around E Wu's body, pulling it into the lake and disappearing.

Han Li's eyebrows raised, he turned around and glanced at the crystal coffin, his face showing a hint of contemplation.

At this moment, Sha Xin on the side slowly regained consciousness.

Although her body was severely damaged, she still managed to stand up.

As Sha Xin regained consciousness, Purple Spirit, who was on the side, frowned and opened her eyes.

Seeing this, Han Li was overjoyed and was about to quickly walk over, but then his gaze shifted and he stopped in his tracks. "Yao Kui!" Sha Xin looked around and quickly saw Yao Kui's corpse, revealing a shocked expression.

"City Lord Sha Xin, don't worry. Yao Kui has already been killed by Fellow Daoist Li." Madam Liuhua smiled and spoke.

Hearing this, Sha Xin's face relaxed. He looked at Han Li with a hint of astonishment in his eyes, about to say something.

"Alright, Yao Kui is dead, and there's nothing more for you here. Everyone else leave; Fellow Daoist Li, stay behind." A majestic voice came from the crystal coffin, still sounding like Crab Daoist.

At this moment, the blood lake water was still rushing towards the crystal coffin. The flesh and skin on the saint's corpse inside had already grown completely, turning into a naked male body.

He looked like a middle-aged man with a full head of white hair and a square face. Although his eyes were tightly closed, they still emitted an imposing aura.

"This appearance..." Han Li looked at the male body in the crystal coffin, his eyes flashing slightly.

At this moment, the man in the coffin bore some resemblance to the Crab Daoist from years ago, but not completely.

"Master, you have finally been resurrected, that's great!" Seeing this, Sha Xin revealed an ecstatic expression. Regardless of his injuries, he knelt before the crystal coffin and excitedly spoke.

"I have not yet fully recovered and need some time to recuperate. With Fellow Daoist Li guarding me, it will be enough." Crab Daoist continued.

"Ah, although Fellow Daoist Li helped us kill the villain Yao Kui, he is still an outsider. It's better for me to guard you, City Lord." Sha Xin glanced at Han Li and said softly.

"Fellow Daoist Li and I have known each other for many years, you don't need to worry. Moreover, I now have another important task to assign to you..." Crab Daoist's voice lowered halfway through, evidently switching to voice transmission.

Sha Xin's expression changed, then he nodded heavily and said to Han Li, "I'll leave this place to you, Fellow Daoist Li." He immediately led Ziling towards the exit.

"Wait, City Lord Sha Xin. Ziling is my friend. Please remove the restrictions in her soul and let her return to her true self." Han Li suddenly called out to Sha Xin.

Hearing this, Ziling's body trembled, revealing a complex expression.

"My memory, I almost forgot. When Ziling first entered Puppet City, I was worried she was a spy sent by Profound City, so I sealed her memory. Please don't blame me, Fellow Daoist Li. I will now release the seal." Sha Xin apologized to Han Li, then walked over to Ziling.

Her hands quickly formed a seal, then suddenly stretched out two fingers, pointing at Ziling's forehead while muttering.

Golden light emanated from her hands and entered Ziling's forehead.

Ziling's forehead immediately revealed golden patterns, forming a seal-like technique. Her eyes became dazed as she softly sat down on the ground.

"Release!" Sha Xin shouted softly.

The golden patterns on Ziling's forehead flashed, then turned into specks of light and scattered.

Ziling groaned and fell into a coma, her body falling towards the ground.

In a flash, Han Li appeared next to Ziling and caught her.

"What happened to her?"

"Fellow Daoist Li, don't worry. Daoist Ziling is only temporarily unconscious and will awaken soon." Sha Xin smiled faintly.

After saying this, she bowed again to the crystal coffin, turned, and walked outside.

Madam Liuhua and Gu Qianxun followed behind her.

Shi Chuankong's gaze moved away from Crab Daoist and looked at Han Li, seeming to want to say something, but in the end did not. He walked outside.

The group quickly left the underground space and arrived above ground.

Sha Xin closed the passage entrance and did not leave. Instead, she sat down cross-legged nearby, white light emanating from her body as if she was cultivating to heal her injuries.

Madam Liuhua and the others did not leave immediately either, each going to a side.

Madam Liuhua's expression fluctuated, then she gritted her teeth and led Gu Qianxun to Sha Xin. She bowed deeply and said, "I, Liu Hua, along with my daughter Qianxun, greet City Lord Sha Xin."

"Daoist Liu Hua, how can I accept such a grand gesture from a young woman?" Sha Xin slowly opened her eyes and calmly spoke.

"City Lord Sha Xin is virtuous and prestigious. Now with the help of the great person in the crystal coffin, unifying the Accumulated Scales Region is only a matter of time. I was previously muddle-headed, aiding the villain Yao Kui against you. I hope you can forgive me. I am now willing to turn over a new leaf and join your Puppet City. I hope the City Lord can accept me." Madam Liuhua earnestly stated.

"My daughter is also willing to join Puppet City. I hope the City Lord will accept us." Gu Qianxun also bowed and spoke.

"Oh, you want to join my Puppet City? Hehe, as for Gu Qianxun, we won't discuss that yet. Daoist Liu Hua, you previously helped Yao Kui create countless star weapons, causing immeasurable damage to our Puppet City. Even if I could be magnanimous and accept you, the others in Puppet City probably couldn't tolerate you." Sha Xin glanced at Madam Liuhua and coldly spoke.

"I understand. In order to quell the rage of the Puppet City Daoists, I am willing to reveal to City Lord Sha Xin the troop deployments around Profound City, as well as the weaknesses in the city's defenses. Most of Profound City's defenses were arranged by myself and Yao Kui. Is this acceptable?" Madam Liuhua bitterly smiled and asked.

"Since Daoist Liu Hua is so sincere, I am not an unreasonable person. Very well! From today onwards, you two are members of my Puppet City." Sha Xin's eyes lit up and she spoke.

"Thank you, City Lord." Madam Liuhua's eyes sparkled with joy. She and Gu Qianxun bowed again.

Shi Chuankong, who was beside them, heard the conversation between Madam Liu Hua and Sha Xin, and after a moment of contemplation, he stepped forward.

"City Lord Sha Xin, I have something I would like to discuss with you. Would you be willing to spare some time for a conversation?" Shi Chuankong said with a slight bow.

"Brother Shi, what is it? Please feel free to speak your mind." Sha Xin glanced at Shi Chuankong and said calmly.

"Can we talk in private?" Shi Chuankong added.

Sha Xin's eyebrows twitched slightly, and a sharp gleam flashed in his eyes.

Shi Chuankong just smiled and calmly met Sha Xin's scrutinizing gaze.

Sha Xin retracted the sharpness in his eyes, nodded, and stood up to walk with Shi Chuankong to a nearby spot, where they began to communicate through voice transmission.

...

In the underground space.

Han Li carried Zi Ling to a flat area and placed her on the ground.

He then took out a healing pill and fed it to Zi Ling. Afterwards, he sat quietly beside her, carefully examining her sleeping face.

Time passed bit by bit, and in the blink of an eye, more than half an hour had gone by.

Zi Ling's delicate eyebrows furrowed slightly, and she let out a soft whimper as she opened her eyes.

"You're awake?" Han Li leaned in to look at her, his eyes flashing with excitement.

Zi Ling's bright, intelligent eyes looked back at him, no longer showing any confusion, clearly having fully regained her mental clarity.

The next moment, her delicate body stiffened, and her beautiful eyes stared blankly at Han Li.

"Is it really you?" She reached out to gently caress Han Li's cheek, murmuring to herself, as if she had gone silly.

"It's me. These years have been hard on you." Han Li grasped Zi Ling's soft hand and said softly.

The two did not speak further, but just gazed at each other, both seemingly immersed in the joy of reuniting in another realm after so many years apart.

Han Li looked at Zi Ling's incomparably beautiful face, and memories of the past flashed through his mind one by one.

From their chance encounter in the Chaotic Star Sea, to their shared hardships in the Void Sky Palace and the Netherworld, their joint venture into the Fallen Devil Valley, and the deep bond they formed, leading to their travels together in the Great Jin, and finally, their reunion in the Devil Realm...

These scenes were like they had happened just yesterday, and they were etched in his heart and soul.

Now, in the blink of an eye, tens of thousands of years had passed, and looking back, though her beauty remained unchanged, everything else was different, as if a world apart.

In Zi Ling's bright eyes, like mirrors of water, Han Li's every minute facial expression was reflected, and she too seemed to be lost in memories of the past.

"I thought that after ascending to the upper realm, I wouldn't know how long it would take to see you again, considering how vast this place is... I didn't expect to meet you so soon, and under such circumstances." After a long while, Zi Ling's expression regained its calmness, and she spoke.

"It was all a coincidence. I came to the Devil Realm because of a certain matter, otherwise I don't know how long it would have taken to meet you." Seeing this, Han Li also regained his composure from his earlier emotional state and smiled.

They were both strong-willed individuals, and even though they had reunited after a long separation, they quickly restrained their surging emotions.

"By the way, I remember entering the Jilin Void Realm and then being taken into the Puppet City by City Lord Sha Xin. How did I end up here? And where is this place?" Zi Ling looked around, her face showing confusion.

"This is the Great Ruins, deep within the Jilin Void Realm. After you entered the Puppet City, Sha Xin must have used some means to seal your divine soul, which is why you don't remember what happened during this time..." Han Li recounted what had happened since their reunion, as well as what he had heard about Zi Ling from the people of the Puppet City.

"I see. I didn't expect City Lord Sha Xin to seal my memories. Fortunately, she didn't have any ill intentions towards me, otherwise we wouldn't have been able to meet safely today." Zi Ling murmured to herself, then smiled.

"It is said that 'one should not harbor ill intentions towards others, but one must always be on guard against others.' We don't know Sha Xin's temperament well, so it's best to be cautious." Han Li said.

"Yes, I understand. I was a bit careless before." Zi Ling nodded obediently.

"By the way, how were things in the lower realm after I ascended? And how did you ascend so quickly? With your aptitude, according to my estimation, it shouldn't have happened so fast." Han Li seemed to have thought of something else and asked with some confusion. "You want to ask about Sister Nangong's situation, right? Just ask directly, no need to beat around the bush." Zi Ling glanced at Han Li.

Han Li did indeed have that intention, and being seen through by Zi Ling, he immediately felt a bit embarrassed.

"Don't worry, before I underwent my tribulation, I went to the Spirit Realm to investigate. With the foundation you left behind, everything in the Qing Yuan Palace is normal. Sister Nangong's cultivation is also very smooth, and she has already reached the Mahayana Realm. She is currently accumulating resources and making preparations in order to pass through the Ascension Tribulation as soon as possible... As for me, it's because of some opportunities that came my way, so the story is long. That's why I passed through the tribulation earlier than Sister Nangong and them." Zi Ling said calmly.

Hearing this, Han Li's expression didn't change much on the surface, but inwardly he secretly let out a sigh of relief.

"What you cultivate is a genuine human race technique, and the place of ascension should be the Immortal Domain, right? How did you end up in the Devil Domain?" Zi Ling asked.

"When I ascended, it was indeed in the Northern Cold Immortal Domain of the True Immortal Realm. Afterwards, many things happened before I arrived in the Devil Domain." Han Li nodded and said.

"Although I haven't been in the Devil Domain for long, I know that the Devil Domain and the Immortal Domain are sworn enemies. I'm curious, how did you end up traveling with the prince of the Night Sun Dynasty, and seemingly on good terms?" Zi Ling blinked her eyes and asked.

"That's a long story. After I ascended to the Northern Cold Immortal Domain, I encountered powerful enemies and was severely injured and lost my memory. I drifted into the Spirit Border Realm and only managed to recover my cultivation with great difficulty before returning to the True Immortal Realm... Afterwards, I went to the Black River Water Palace to look for you, and learned that you had been taken into the Accumulated Scale Void, so I also entered the Accumulated Scale Void. Heaven helps those with an unyielding heart, and I finally found you." Han Li recounted his experiences over these years in detail. Aside from matters like the Heaven Bottle that were inconvenient to mention, he hid nothing and roughly told Zi Ling everything.

Hearing Han Li's incredible experiences with their dramatic ups and downs, Zi Ling's expression changed again and again. Even with her resolute and firm temperament, her heart couldn't help but be moved by Han Li's story.

Especially when she heard that Han Li had entered the Accumulated Scale Void to search for her despite the strange dangers, her heart was even more touched.

After a long time, Han Li finally finished speaking. Zi Ling stared blankly into the void in front of her, lost in thought.

"Although I knew early on that you were someone with great divine powers and great fortune, and that your abilities were far beyond what I could anticipate, I still couldn't imagine that you experienced so many things over these years. Moreover, your cultivation has already soared to the Grand Unity Realm. During this time, you must have suffered untold hardships." Zi Ling sighed and said softly.

"I did encounter some dangers, but since they're all in the past now, they naturally don't matter anymore. Furthermore, if I hadn't encountered so many obstacles, my cultivation wouldn't have improved so quickly. This is what they call 'misfortune, upon which good fortune leans'." Han Li said with a carefree laugh.

"You're quite open-minded. But what are your plans next?" Zi Ling smiled and didn't dwell on the matter, changing the subject.

"I previously promised Crab Daoist friend that I would protect him here until he fully recovers. After that, I'll leave the Accumulated Scale Void and find a way to return to the True Immortal Realm." Han Li thought for a moment and said.

"Crab Daoist friend has a way to leave the Accumulated Scale Void?" Zi Ling's pretty face froze, and she asked in surprise.

"Haha, Zi Ling Daoist friend, don't worry. Once I fully recover, I'll be able to drive the origin power of the Accumulated Scale Void and send people outside, allowing you and your partner to escape this dangerous place together." Crab Daoist's voice suddenly rang out without warning, and he laughed loudly.

Hearing this, Zi Ling's face flushed bright red.

"Zi Ling, you just ascended to the Devil Domain, and your cultivation isn't strong yet. In the future, come with me to the True Immortal Realm. As long as there are enough Devil Essence Stones, you can cultivate there just the same." Han Li looked at Zi Ling and seemed to have made some decision. His tone was solemn.

Hearing this, Zi Ling fell silent and didn't speak for a time.

Han Li understood her personality and naturally didn't urge her, just quietly waiting.

"Han brother, I've had a question buried in my heart for a long time, and I've always wanted to ask you." After being silent for a moment, Zi Ling suddenly spoke up.

"Go ahead." Han Li was startled, but nodded and said.

"In Han brother's heart, between me and Sister Nangong, who do you care about more?" Zi Ling looked directly into Han Li's eyes, her gaze bright and clear.

"Why would you say that, Zi Ling? You and Wan'er are both the people I care about the most." Hearing this, Han Li was stunned. After a long while, he forced a smile and said.

Zi Ling looked at Han Li. Although his face didn't reveal much, her beautiful eyes still flashed with a hint of disappointment, but she quickly regained her composure.

"You men are truly insatiable, and this has nothing to do with cultivation level." Zi Ling murmured, and then fell silent again.

Han Li continued to look at Zi Ling, and also silently sighed in his heart.

"I've never had the idea of relying on others before, and I won't in the future either. I still want to cultivate on my own like you, and forge my own path. Besides, even though your cultivation is strong, your enemies are not weak either. If I followed by your side, I would only be a burden. It's better for me to stay in the Devil Domain. The environment here suits me better." After a long silence, Zi Ling said.

"You really haven't changed, still exactly the same as before. So what are your plans for the future?" Hearing this, Han Li asked with a bitter smile.

"My aptitude is ordinary, and my cultivation can't compare to yours, Han brother. However, I feel that puppet techniques suit me quite well, so I plan to continue following Sand Heart City Lord and focus on studying puppet techniques. In the future, when Crab Daoist friend is fully resurrected, I should also leave this place and go to the Devil Domain to cultivate." Zi Ling pondered for a moment and said.

"Since you've already made your plans, I won't force you. But take these things. They'll be of great help to your future cultivation." As he spoke, Han Li took out a few jade slips, copying the techniques of the first statue of the "Heavenly Demon Prison Skill," as well as two devil race techniques suitable for Zi Ling's cultivation. He handed them all to Zi Ling.

Regarding the items Han Li gave her, Zi Ling did not refuse this time. After taking the jade slips and briefly examining them, her pretty face changed.

Although her cultivation was not high, she had been in the Black River Water Palace and the Puppet City, so her knowledge was not ordinary.

The cultivation methods on these jade slips were extremely precious. Any one of them, if spread, would be a treasure fought over by countless people.

"You have cultivated the Puppet Heart of Puppet City to a quite high level, but when it comes to tempering divine consciousness, no matter how many realms you traverse, no cultivation method can compare to the Soul Refining Technique. If you can cultivate it, it will surely be of great help to your puppet manipulation skills. However, this cultivation method also has its disadvantages. I have recorded everything in the jade slip. How to choose is up to you. Don't relax in the cultivation of the Heavenly execution Prison Skill. In the future, after leaving the Jilin Empty Realm, you will still have to rely on cultivation to determine victory or defeat. First, clear the Profound Orifice, then impact the Immortal Orifice will be much easier." Han Li carefully instructed.

"I understand." Zi Ling nodded and kept the jade slips close to her body.

"As for those two cultivation methods, I obtained them from a Demon Race Daluo. Although you can't cultivate them now, they are quite compatible with your physique, so you can save them for later. The first two cultivation methods can be cultivated now, especially in the Jilin Empty Realm where the power of the stars is rich. It's the best environment for cultivating the Heavenly Execution Prison Skill. You might as well stay here with me to protect Crab Daoist friend. I can also give you some pointers." Han Li said again.

"No, I plan to return to Sha City Lord first. My puppet manipulation skills have not yet reached a profound level. I need her to continue teaching me to improve, otherwise my previous efforts will have been in vain. As for the cultivation methods you gave me, I will arrange them properly. Moreover, I can take care of myself, you don't have to worry." Zi Ling looked away and said calmly.

"In that case, keep this too. I took it from someone in your Puppet City before. It's quite powerful. And since this is something I'm giving you, even if Sha Xin knows, she won't dare say anything. You keep it for your own protection." Han Li then took out a golden ball and handed it to Zi Ling. It was the Golden Winged Owl Puppet.

"Golden Winged Owl!" Zi Ling saw the golden ball, her beautiful eyes moved, but she did not refuse. She took the ball and put it away.

"You've given me so many things, I have nothing to repay you with, so I'll give you a small gift in return." She hesitated for a moment, then took out an object and handed it over.

Han Li took the object, but it was a green jade pendant, crystal clear like water, and it looked like it was made of extraordinary material.

But this jade pendant was not complete, it seemed to be only half, and the broken mouth was jagged, as if it had been forcibly broken off.

In the center of the jade pendant, a group of light and shadow emerged, vaguely revealing the image of a person.

"Zi Ling, this..." Han Li's face changed slightly, and he looked up at Zi Ling.

"You don't need to worry about this matter, I will handle it myself, I'm just telling you today." Zi Ling said calmly, her voice light but full of determination.

As soon as the words fell, she turned and walked outside.

Han Li stepped forward, as if wanting to reach out to stop her, but in the end he stopped his steps, looked at the jade pendant in his hand, and sighed.

Zi Ling quickly left the underground space and came outside.

Outside the entrance, a group of people was standing at this moment, including Sha Xin, Six Flowers Madam and others, Zhuo Ge, Black Big, Black Two also came to this place, surrounding Sha Xin.

"City Lord." Zi Ling came to Sha Xin's side and bowed.

"Zi Ling, how did you come out? How is the owner inside?" Sha Xin looked surprised and hurriedly got up to help Zi Ling.

"That senior is still recovering. I talked with Li Daoist friend and then came out." Zi Ling said calmly.

"Zi Ling, I previously sealed your divine soul. Although it was for Puppet City, the consideration was indeed inadequate. I hope you don't take it to heart." Sha Xin slowly nodded, held Zi Ling's hand, and said apologetically.

"City Lord, please don't say that, I understand." Zi Ling said.

"What are your plans for the future?" Hearing this, Sha Xin's heart secretly relaxed, and then she asked.

"I am willing to continue to follow the City Lord." Zi Ling said firmly.

......

In the underground cave, after Zi Ling left, the blood lake suddenly churned up a whirlpool.

The blood-colored crystal stone plate then sank down, bringing Han Li with it into the lake water below.

Below the blood pool, a spell formation flashed with light.

Then, Han Li and Crab Daoist appeared together in a large crystal palace.

The walls of the palace were transparent and flawless, showing a faint crystal red color, covered with various patterns, looking like a large crystal coffin.

The blood-colored crystal stone plate carrying Crab Daoist's sacred bones fit perfectly with a half-man-high stone platform on the ground, linking the patterns together, looking like one.

On the ground of the crystal palace, there were also three circular trenches, also engraved with complex patterns. The entire palace seemed to be a vast stellar formation.

With a glance, Han Li couldn't help but raise his eyebrows, only to discover that Yue Qiu's corpse was lying in a circular trench not far away.

"Brother Han, although I have now merged with this corpse, it is far from being resurrected. I need to recuperate here to achieve true resurrection. As I said before, I still need you to guard me for some time." The holy body on the blood-colored crystal stone suddenly spoke.

"Why me, and not Sha Xin? Isn't she your subordinate? It seems that she has been very loyal to you over the years, always wanting to resurrect you." Han Li frowned and asked.

"Yue Qiu was once my trusted subordinate, ordered to guard this place for me, but in the end... he colluded with the Demon Lord and almost destroyed this place. Now, the only person I trust is you, Brother Han." Crab Daoist shook his head and said.

"I have one thing that I don't understand. What is your relationship with the Demon Lord, and why did he harm you?" Han Li asked again.

"This matter... is a long story. Let's wait until I fully recover before I tell you in detail. There are two side halls on the left and right of the Falling Star Crystal Palace. One was where I used to study the mysteries of the Dao and puppet techniques. The books and materials stored there are still intact and have not been affected. You can read them freely. The other was where I used to cultivate. You can also go into seclusion there." Crab Daoist hesitated for a moment and continued.

Han Li didn't ask any more questions and nodded in agreement.

A moment later, a circular formation above the crystal palace lit up with a starlight, and then, like a prairie fire, it instantly ignited the entire formation.

The four walls and the ground of the crystal palace were filled with stars, as if a vast galaxy had emerged. The vast power of the stars gathered from all directions.

All the patterns on the blood-colored crystal stone and the stone platform below lit up, and a layer of hazy light immediately gathered from them, turning into a blood-colored barrier that enveloped the Crab Daoist's holy body.

At the same time, the sound of flowing water came from the trenches on the ground of the crystal palace.

The lake of blood containing pure blood power also gathered from somewhere, filling the three circular trenches and converging towards the blood-colored stone platform in the center.

Han Li could clearly feel that the vast power in the blood was slowly fusing into the body.

Just then, a "bang" sound came.

When Han Li looked over, he found that in the outer trench, Yue Qiu's body suddenly burst open, and pieces of flesh and bones were sucked onto the crystal wall of the trench by a strange force.

Under the constant flushing of the blood, his flesh began to dissolve rapidly, and even the bones were slowly melting. All the power in the remains turned into pure blood energy and fused into the entire formation.

At this moment, Han Li suddenly felt his heart tremble violently, and his face became extremely flushed.

His expression changed slightly, and he silently activated the star power in his body, turned around, and walked towards the right side hall.

Han Li passed through a crystal stone door and entered the side hall, immediately sitting down cross-legged.

At this moment, the blood in his body was raging in his veins, and all the blood seemed to be boiling. The skin on the surface of his body seemed to be burning, and layers of hot pink heat were constantly evaporating from his pores.

Including the mountain giant ape, thunder roc, true dragon, and other true spirit bloodlines, they all began to riot in his body and seemed to be uncontrollable, all showing signs of exploding.

Han Li immediately activated the Heavenly Devil Imprisoning Skill, mobilized all the star power in his body, and tried to suppress it.

As a result, it was better not to activate it. As soon as he activated it, the true spirit bloodlines in his body immediately became more violent, as if they had been injected with a powerful medicine, causing Han Li's bones to make cracking sounds.

"What's going on?" Han Li was stunned and extremely surprised.

He thought about it for a moment, and only then did he remember that when he was fighting against Yue Qiu, it was when he activated the Heavenly Devil Imprisoning Skill that the true spirit bloodline's power greatly increased. It seemed that there was indeed a connection between the two.

But now that the true spirit bloodline was backlashing, it would be counterproductive to stimulate it like this.

In addition to being shocked, Han Li immediately stopped the operation of the technique and only used his mental power to draw the star power in his body and disperse it to various parts of his body to help calm the turbulent blood.

Two hours later, the true spirit bloodline that was rioting and counterattacking in Han Li's body gradually subsided. Han Li slowly opened his eyes and exhaled a long breath, but his face was still flushed with blood.

"I didn't expect the true spirit bloodline to backlash at this time. It will be troublesome in the future..." Han Li sighed.

As he spoke, he stood up and looked around.

In the center of the hall, there were several white jade bookshelves about a foot high, with a total of eight columns, arranged in a radial pattern towards the center of the hall, filled with all kinds of books.

In the center of the hall, there was a crystal pagoda less than a foot high, with a total of eight corners and nine layers, surrounded by spiritual light, looking extremely beautiful.

Han Li passed through the layers of white jade bookshelves surrounding him and approached the crystal tower. Upon closer inspection, he discovered that the tower was not carved with any spell patterns, nor was it a fairy treasure. It was simply a uniquely shaped storage shelf.

The crystal tower was divided into eight compartments on each layer, with each compartment containing numerous jade slips and silk papers.

The bottom layer had the largest space and the most books, mostly in the form of books and scrolls, densely accumulated, with about a hundred or so in just one compartment.

As one went higher, each layer of the tower became smaller, and the number of books that could be stored inside became fewer. At the top layer, there were only eight remaining, all in the form of jade slips.

With Crab Taoist's previous words in mind, Han Li had no reservations. He casually took out a jade slip, glanced at it, and then raised his hand to place it on his forehead, carefully examining it.

After a moment, he put down the jade slip in his hand, and his expression changed slightly.

The jade slip he had just put down contained a puppet refining technique called " Hundred Refinements into a Puppet." Han Li was astonished after just a brief scan.

Just the materials used for the puppets were discussed from three aspects: "Heavenly Time," " Geographical Advantage," and " Human Harmony." It not only fully demonstrated the influence of different puppet materials on the quality of the refined puppets but also detailed the importance of refining puppets with different attributes under various heavenly time environments.

However, Han Li's mind was not focused on this at the moment. He wanted to look for some cultivation-related books to see if he could find any techniques or divine powers to suppress or resolve the backlash of the True Spirit bloodline within his body.

So, after putting away the " Hundred Refinements into a Puppet," he continued to pick up other jade slips and place them on his forehead for viewing.

...

In the blink of an eye, seven days passed.

Han Li sat cross-legged, leaning against a corner of the main hall, holding a scroll named " Star Element Blood Refining Technique," carefully examining it.

The content recorded in this technique was indeed unique, different from the common cultivation techniques of tempering the body, muscles, and even tendons and bones. It boldly proposed using the power of the stars to refine the blood.

By cultivating this technique, a cultivator's blood could also be refined, allowing the blood to contain a large amount of star power. When fighting enemies, occasionally using the blood flowing out of wounds as an attack method often produced unexpected effects.

Moreover, the blood of those who practiced this technique often contained more energy. When using some blood-burning secret techniques, they often had an even more terrifying power boost.

However, this technique was extremely difficult to cultivate. During the process of introducing star power into the blood, not only did one have to endure unimaginable pain, but they also had to bear enormous risks.

Because blood travels throughout the body through veins, passing through important points such as the heart and dantian, if one lost control and the star power in the blood went out of control, it would be a life-threatening situation.

However, after reading it, Han Li only marveled at it and had no intention of cultivating this technique. The scroll clearly stated that this technique was not suitable for people with special bloodlines to cultivate.

The reason was simple: the blood power of these people was stronger, making it more difficult to control the fusion of their blood and star power. Han Li's bloodline power was already quite complex. If he wanted to cultivate this technique, it would be like adding fuel to the fire, seeking his own death.

However, this technique was not completely useless for Han Li. The various blood circulation methods and ways to calm the turmoil of star power mentioned in it were very useful.

As for how to cultivate and learn, Han Li still needed to carefully extract the beneficial parts.

After a while, he slowly rolled up the scroll, rubbed his slightly painful forehead, and slowly stood up, placing it back on the crystal tower.

In these few days, he had gone through all the books on this tower, but the useful information he found was not much.

Even the " Star Element Blood Refining Technique" he just found could only serve an auxiliary purpose and could not completely solve his current predicament.

However, since he had found some alleviating methods, Han Li decided to try cultivating them.

He turned around and left the main hall, heading towards another main hall.

When Han Li arrived at the central hall where the star formation was operating, he saw that Crab Taoist in the formation had already been completely covered by a layer of blood-colored crystal light. The light refracted, making it impossible to see his figure clearly.

Han Li did not linger. He only glanced briefly before turning around and leaving.

As soon as he entered another main hall, Han Li felt as if he had bumped into a wall of qi. Immediately after, it seemed as if his entire body was wrapped in a warm current, extremely comfortable.

He looked around and discovered that the entire main hall was filled with various spell patterns. The ceiling and floor were carved with star patterns, flickering unpredictably.

Among them were river-like patterns, with white light flowing like water waves, looking incredibly dazzling.

"No wonder this was Crab Taoist's closed-door cultivation place. The star power here is so dense..." Han Li couldn't help but exclaim upon seeing this. After finishing his words, he arrived at a lotus platform in the center of the great hall and sat down cross-legged.

Underneath Han Li's buttocks, a white halo of light immediately lit up, as if a cotton cushion had been inserted, making it very comfortable.

After sitting down, he closed his eyes and rested for a while before starting to recall the "Xingyuan Blood Refining Technique" he had just seen in his mind, but he did not immediately start cultivating it.

He directly ignored the part about how to draw the power of the stars into his body to refine his blood, and only selected the latter half of the technique on how to calm the power of the stars to learn.

The star power emphasized in the technique was actually not much different from the nature of the True Spirit Bloodline. When it became violent, the power was uncontrollable. On one hand, it would burn the essence and blood in the body, and on the other hand, it would break through the blood vessels, causing the whole body to explode.

Han Li relied on his strong physique to avoid the fate of his body exploding and dying to a certain extent, but he could not avoid the boiling heat of his blood. After it was completely burned, his whole body would wither and die.

After thinking for a long time, Han Li began to follow the mnemonics in the technique, pinching his fingers and silently cultivating.

...

Time flew by, and more than eight years passed.

In the closed-door cultivation hall, Han Li sat cross-legged on the lotus platform. His entire body was red, and pink mist steamed from his body, filling the room as if a hot spring had been opened.

His eyes were as red as blood, but the divine light in his pupils was calm, without any sense of panic.

He then formed a strange hand seal, and a chanting sound came from his mouth. His body tilted to the right, and he propped up his head with one hand and bent one leg, making a pose of a sleeping Buddha.

As he laid down in this pose, the star power in his body surged like river waves, from his head to his feet, and from his feet to his head. It circulated steadily, gradually suppressing his raging True Spirit Bloodline.

The red color on his body also began to recede from his head to his neck, from his neck to his chest, gradually returning to normal.

"Success! The effort I put in during this time was not in vain..." After a while, Han Li sat up and a smile appeared on his face.

In these eight years, except for a small amount of time when Han Li went to the hall where the techniques were stored to read books, he spent most of his time in the closed-door secret room cultivating the Xingyuan Blood Refining Technique.

After countless attempts, he finally gradually mastered the method to calm his True Spirit Bloodline.

Han Li stood up, stretched, and looked up. He suddenly saw a star map carved above his head, with its light flashing constantly. The Milky Way engraved on it was like a jade belt hanging horizontally in the air. Although it was mysterious and beautiful, it was not as gorgeous as before.

"It seems to be another clear sky with sparse stars..." Han Li was in a good mood and muttered to himself.

He had discovered early on that although the crystal palace he was in was located under the blood lake, it could connect with the outside starry sky. Every time night fell and stars filled the sky, the star map above the palace would light up like the stars.

The denser the stars in the night sky, the brighter the star map in the crystal palace would be, and the denser the star power it would absorb. Today, the moon was clearly in the sky, but the starlight seemed a bit dim.

Han Li looked at it for a while, and suddenly had a thought. He reached into his arms and, after fumbling for a while, took out a small dark green bottle that had accompanied him throughout his cultivation journey. He bent down and placed it on the ground.

The light projected from the roof above spilled onto the small dark green bottle, giving it a soft glow and clearly outlining the patterns on the bottle's body.

However, after waiting for a long time, the small bottle just stayed still in place without any change.

"Sure enough, it doesn't work? It seems that only the starlight can be transmitted into this crystal palace..." Before he could finish his words, his eyebrows raised slightly, and a very familiar scene appeared before his eyes.

A hazy white light enveloped the small bottle, and the leaf-like patterns on it also lit up, making the whole bottle body crystal clear. White spots of light formed around the bottle, turning into a huge white halo that glowed with a soft light.

However, the speed at which these white spots of light gathered was indeed a bit slow, much slower than before in other places.

Han Li looked at it for a while, then put the small bottle away again. He was just curious and wanted to try it, but he didn't plan to use the Palm Heaven Bottle to gather green liquid, because in this Jilin Kong Realm, there was no need for this item for the time being.

After putting it away, he turned around and left the hall, and went to the hall of books again.

...

More than a month later, one day.

Han Li sat cross-legged in the closed-door cultivation hall and took out three items from his sleeves, placing them one by one in front of him.

They were four ancient statues made of the same material, which seemed to be some kind of demon race creature, all in the shape of three heads and six arms, but their facial expressions and action details were very different.

Han Li stood in front of the four statues, his eyes flashing slightly.

Among them, the one on the far left was obtained from Du Qingyang and had already been cultivated in the previous blood formation. The two beside it were obtained from E Wai not long ago.

The last one was taken out by Han Li from the Flowing Branch space using the remaining bit of Immortal Spirit Power he had left.

According to what E Wai said, there should be a total of four such statues, and these should be all of them.

When Han Li thought of this, a hint of gloom inevitably appeared in his heart.

At that time, his Immortal Spirit Power was almost exhausted, only enough to take out this one statue. Even if he wanted to enter the Flowing Branch space again to take another look, he couldn't do it.

He had thought he would be able to return from the Accumulated Scaly Void soon, but he didn't expect it to take so long. What about Ti Hun, who was still sleeping on the second floor of the bamboo building? How was he doing?

However, no matter how worried he was, there was nothing he could do about it now.

The Third Prince, Shi Pokuoju, had ulterior motives, and his so-called method of returning to the Demon Realm was completely unusable. The only way to leave the Accumulated Scaly Void was to wait for the Crab Daoist to recover.

Now that the Eldest Prince, Shi Zhanfeng, had fallen, even if he returned to the Demon Realm now, he probably wouldn't be able to ask him to abide by the agreement and have the High Priest come to treat Ti Hun.

Moreover, the Demon Realm was already in chaos, and the subsequent struggle for the throne would only intensify. Han Li didn't want to get involved in it anymore.

Putting aside his chaotic thoughts, Han Li picked up the second statue and took a deep breath. A flash of light appeared between his eyebrows, and a crystal beam of light shot out from it, entering the black statue.

Immediately after, just like the first statue before, this one began to make all sorts of strange gestures, and behind it, a dense array of profound texts appeared, naturally containing the contents of the Heaven Slaying Prison Skill.

Han Li's eyes were fixed on the movements of the statue, and he began to imitate them.

...

On a distant continent, far away from here, there was a magnificent city with a dense array of guards.

In the center of the city, in a grand palace, a beautiful woman sat on a high platform, leaning against a white jade chair, listening with a relaxed expression to the report of a handsome man below her.

If Han Li were here, he would have recognized the woman as the master of the Puppet City, Sha Xin, and the man reporting to her as Zhuo Ge.

"Reporting to the City Master, the situation in the Mysterious City has basically stabilized. Although the five major cities and some affiliated small cities have put up some resistance, they were quickly suppressed. By the way, Gu Qianxun has been very helpful in this process," Zhuo Ge said respectfully.

"I heard that in Xuanzhi City, the elders and their clans who originally followed Qin Yuan, even those who took the lead in surrendering and pledging their loyalty, were all slaughtered?" Sha Xin asked casually, her tone devoid of any emotion.

"This... It was done by Gu Qianxun, but only after the Six Flower Madam gave her approval. He said he would explain it to you himself." Zhuo Ge hesitated for a moment before answering.

"They have some old grudges between them, it doesn't matter, let them do as they please." Sha Xin said indifferently.

"In this matter, Gu Qianxun acted decisively. Instead of relying on his influence to kill people, he fought in the city's Xuan Battle Arena for seven days and seven nights, a total of eighty-one matches, killing those people one by one. Not only did this not provoke the anger of the people of Xuanzhi City, but it actually won over quite a few hearts." Zhuo Ge said carefully.

"Since they are willing to serve under the Master, let Six Flower Madam be the City Master of Xuanzhi City. Have the City Masters of the other cities been decided yet?" Sha Xin nodded and then asked.

"Mysterious City is temporarily under the control of the Six Flower Madam, and the Zhu Ziyuan siblings have voluntarily come to pledge their allegiance, assisting in managing Mysterious City. It has been the smoothest transition. The other cities have suffered many deaths, but the City Masters have all been chosen." Zhuo Ge reported.

"As one of the main cities comparable to Puppet City, Mysterious City needs to be closely monitored, both openly and secretly. Necessary surveillance cannot be lacking." Sha Xin instructed.

"I will follow the City Master's orders," Zhuo Ge replied.

"These are small matters, you can handle them as you see fit. How many of the ruins I ordered you to excavate have been found?" Sha Xin waved her sleeve lightly and asked.

"So far, only twenty-one have been found, and the remaining eighty-seven are still being sought." Zhuo Ge answered.

"These ruins are scattered throughout the Accumulated Scaly Void, and some are in remote and dangerous places where people rarely venture. Finding twenty-one can be considered a fast pace. However, there's no need to rush too much. As long as they can all be excavated within the next thousand years, it will be fine." Sha Xin nodded and said.

"Yes!" Zhuo Ge responded, clasping his fist.

"This matter concerns the Master's re-control of the Accumulated Scaly Void after he comes out. Remember, there must be no mistakes. Alright, you may go now." After Sha Xin finished speaking, she waved her hand, dismissing Zhuo Ge.

Zhuo Ge bowed in response, then turned and left.

...

In the western district of Puppet City, within a large mansion, all was silent.

In an underground secret chamber within the mansion, a white-haired man, completely naked, was soaking in an octagonal blood pool. His body was bound by eight blood crystal chains, connected to eight blood-colored stone pillars at the edge of the pool. Chapter:

His appearance was handsome, with deep purple eyes, and it was Shi Chuankong.

"Clang..."

The sound of chains rattling echoed continuously, causing the surrounding eight blood-colored stone pillars to shake violently. The entire blood pool seemed to be boiling, with waves of blood surging and emitting rolling hot breaths.

Shi Chuankong, who was in the middle of it all, seemed completely unaffected. His body didn't even tremble excessively. Only his tightly furrowed brows and the sound of his gritting teeth revealed that he was enduring unimaginable pain.

However, all of this was voluntary, and it was even the result of a deal he made with Sha Xin.

"Fellow Daoist Li, the feeling of being pulled away by you is really uncomfortable..." After he said this through gritted teeth, a point of light on his chest suddenly lit up, and he had actually broken through a mysterious orifice.

...

As the saying goes, cultivation knows no age. In the blink of an eye, more than 800 years had passed.

In the crystal palace beneath the Great Xu Blood Lake, the Star Array was still operating. In the side hall next to it, there were rumbling sounds.

Inside the side hall, a humanoid monster covered in golden fur, with lightning wings on its back, bulging eyes, and green tortoise shell-like armor on its arms, was wantonly punching the palace walls.

Fortunately, the runes on the crystal walls emitted a brilliant light, releasing a vast star power that strongly blocked the monster's heavy blows, preventing the entire crystal palace from being reduced to ruins.

After the monster had been rampaging for three hours, its momentum gradually weakened and it slowly stopped.

As its movements became slower, the silver wings on its body disappeared first, followed by the green tortoise shells fading away one by one, and finally, all the golden fur disappeared completely.

After all the abnormalities disappeared, it finally transformed back into a human form, which was Han Li.

At this moment, his eye sockets were sunken, and he looked like he had lost a lot of weight. His hands were supporting him on the ground, his chest was heaving, and he was panting heavily. The sweat on his body turned into mist as soon as it flowed out, evaporated by the high temperature emanating from his body surface.

His entire body seemed to be shrouded in a layer of smoke, making him look hazy and unclear.

After a long while, he leaned against the wall and sat down. The raging True Spirit bloodline in his body finally stabilized.

"The True Spirit bloodline is not a star power after all. With just this Star Essence Blood Refining Technique, it's becoming increasingly difficult to suppress the bloodline eruption. If this continues a few more times, I'm afraid it will eventually burn all the essence blood in my body dry." Han Li frowned and sighed.

All the books in another side hall had been read by him more than ten times. Among all the techniques for cultivating the body, none of them could deal with this situation. Instead, it was in the books about puppet techniques that a method was mentioned.

However, Han Li had a strong aversion to this method and was unwilling to try it.

The content described in this method was to refine a powerful puppet, channel the True Spirit bloodline into it, and then draw fresh blood from elsewhere into one's own body to preserve one's life.

However, if this method were followed, the strength of the main body would naturally be greatly damaged. Although the resulting puppet would have extremely powerful combat strength for a short period of time, once the refined blood in the puppet's body was exhausted, it would also become useless.

Although Han Li was resistant, he also knew clearly in his heart that if it really came to this point, life was naturally more important than anything else.

During this period of time, Crab Daoist had awakened several times. Han Li took the opportunity to borrow some of his Origin Immortal Spirit Power and opened the Flower Branch Cave to check on the state of the sobbing soul.

The result was that although the Purple Yang Warm Jade had been completely exhausted, for some reason, the state of the sobbing soul had not continued to deteriorate. So, he followed Crab Daoist's teachings and temporarily sealed the sobbing soul using the puppet secret technique, planning to deal with it in the future.

In addition, Han Li had also inquired with Crab Daoist about the issue of the True Spirit Bloodline backlash.

After all, it was Crab Daoist who had advised him to choose to cultivate the Heaven Slaying Prison Technique. And when he used the advanced refinement method recorded in the technique to refine the True Spirit Bloodline, the backlash situation began to appear.

After pondering, Crab Daoist also only gave an answer that "it was probably that after completely refining the True Spirit Bloodline, the power of the bloodline was inadvertently amplified, resulting in the backlash situation."

Unfortunately, he was unable to provide a solution and only said to wait until he came out of seclusion before discussing it further. Then, he fell back into a deep sleep.

Although Han Li felt helpless in his heart, there was nothing he could do about it.

However, as things stood now, as long as he continued to cultivate the Heaven Slaying Prison Technique and strengthen his physical strength, while not using the Heaven Slaying Prison Technique, he could use the star power to suppress the outbreak of the True Spirit Bloodline, which still had a certain effect.

Therefore, he intensified his cultivation of the Heaven Slaying Prison Technique even more.

Currently, Han Li had already finished cultivating the second statue, opening up more than 900 mysterious orifices, and his strength was already comparable to that of E'wan in the past.

The reason why he was able to cultivate so quickly was partly due to the ingenuity of the "Heaven Slaying Prison Technique" and partly due to the massive amount of qi and blood stored in the Grasping Heaven Bottle. Of course, this crystal palace also played a significant role.

Although he possessed such unique cultivation conditions, Han Li still encountered some difficulties in comprehending the third statue.

This was because the cultivation method of the third statue had changed, completely different from before.

It required the simultaneous circulation of the power of the stars to impact the mysterious orifices, while using the power of blood qi as support, causing the fleshly body to undergo a transformation similar to demonification, growing three heads and six arms.

This method had extremely high requirements for blood qi power; otherwise, it would be impossible to simultaneously derive three heads and six arms.

Although Han Li's current blood qi power was strong, it still couldn't reach such a transformation.

A moment later, he remained sitting in the same spot, his mind rarely not continuing to ponder about the matter of the True Spirit bloodline.

He saw the corner of his mouth slightly lift, hooking a smile. He raised his hand and groped in his bosom, taking out the half piece of jade pendant that Zilin had given him, holding it in his hand and carefully examining it.

The jade pendant slowly rotated in his hand, casting a sparkling green light, inside which a blurry figure was reflected. Han Li looked at it, unable to help but feel a strange sense in his heart.

"What is the purpose of Zilin giving me this thing? It seems that there is nothing extraordinary about it. However, this figure's shadow is quite similar to me. Could it be an item that Zilin used to remember me in the past?" Han Li murmured.

In his deep-set eye sockets, some laughter seeped out.

He picked up the jade pendant's hanging string, and with a light rub of his fingers, the jade pendant began to spin rapidly in mid-air, pulling out traces of afterimages that connected into a patch, looking just like a green ball.

And within that green ball, a rather three-dimensional figure image also emerged.

Seeing this scene, Han Li's expression suddenly changed. He was stunned for a moment, then murmured, "Perhaps it can work, perhaps it can work..."

After speaking, he once again took out the four statues and placed them in front of himself, carefully observing them.

In the third statue of the Heaven Destroyer Prison Technique, it mentioned using the power of blood qi to change the fleshly body. Han Li couldn't achieve this solely relying on his own blood qi power, but if he changed it to the True Spirit bloodline, it might not be impossible.

This was just like the half piece of jade pendant and the figure's side profile within it. It wasn't necessary to separate you and I. The two merged into one, simultaneously operating. Perhaps, on the contrary, both could be accomplished?

However, before this, Han Li still had some concerns.

After all, the previous several instances of backlash from the True Spirit bloodline were more or less related to the operation of the Heaven Destroyer Prison Technique. If he were to simultaneously operate both at this moment, would it attract an even more violent backlash from the True Spirit bloodline? Han Li didn't have much confidence.

After pondering for a long time, he still decided to give it a try. At this point, the matter of the backlash of the True Spirit bloodline had already reached a critical juncture and could no longer be delayed.

Planning before acting, once he made the decision, Han Li no longer hesitated.

He held the third statue in his hand, and a beam of crystal light shot out from between his eyebrows, entering the statue, which then began to move.

Han Li was extremely familiar with all the actions of this statue. This time, he paid more attention to the profound text on the back of the statue, carefully examining the method of using blood qi power to change the body's form mentioned inside.

After confirming there was no danger, he began to follow the actions on the statue and started moving.

As his movements changed, over nine hundred mysterious orifices on his body lit up one after another.

At the same time, Han Li also began to silently circulate the True Spirit bloodline within his body.

A moment later, a feeling of irritation and heat came from his heart.

Han Li was very familiar with this. It was the precursor to the True Spirit bloodline's backlash. Soon after, the blood in his body would rapidly rise in temperature, becoming like boiling water.

He calmed his mind, trying to keep himself as calm as possible. Unlike before, he didn't attempt to use the methods from the Star Essence Blood Refinement Art to calm the restless blood. Instead, he began to guide the True Spirit bloodline within his body, according to the path recorded in the third statue, gathering it towards his shoulders and back.

It was fine not to try, but once he did, the True Spirit bloodline immediately surged towards his head like floodwater released from a gate.

Han Li suddenly felt a tearing pain in his neck and shoulders as the muscles in his shoulders swelled up, giving him a feeling of flesh growing.

However, accompanying this was the sharp pain in his knowledge sea's divine sense. The unbearable pain was like a powerful tearing force trying to tear his divine sense apart.

And the source of this power was precisely the raging True Spirit bloodline.

"Ah..."

The tearing pain simultaneously coming from his knowledge sea and body made even Han Li, who was used to all kinds of pain, find it somewhat hard to bear. He couldn't help but let out a series of screams.

What he found strange was that at this moment, his divine sense was unexpectedly clear, not as if he was about to lose it like before. But precisely because of this, the tearing pain was doubly clear.

However, this also proved that the method he had thought of before was indeed feasible.

After screaming in pain, Han Li gritted his teeth and focused on cultivating the Heaven Destroyer Prison Technique. Underground cultivation, time unknown, in the blink of an eye, another five hundred years passed.

In a side hall of the crystal palace, layers of blood-red light shimmered like Buddha's treasure light.

In the blood light, a strange man with three heads and six arms, about a hundred feet tall, was sitting cross-legged on a lotus platform, waving his six arms and making various strange movements repeatedly.

On his shoulders, he carried three heads, none of which were human.

The one in the center was a golden monkey head resembling an angry-eyed Vajra, the one on the left was a majestic true dragon head, and the one on the right had golden eyes like lightning, an eagle beak, and plumes, a giant bird head.

After a series of movements, the strange man suddenly brought his six arms together, all doing the gesture of joining hands in front of his chest.

The blood-red halo enveloping him slowly converged, and his figure gradually shrank amidst the blood light. When all the light was gone, a bare-chested young man emerged, revealing Han Li.

He exhaled turbid energy and slowly opened his eyes, twisted his neck, and a smile appeared on his face.

Since discovering that the True Spirit bloodline could be integrated into the Heaven Defying Prison Technique, he had been practicing hard. Over the years, although the number of profound orifices had not changed much, remaining at over nine hundred, his physique had undergone tremendous changes.

What pleased him the most was that now, the backlash of the bloodline had been solved by half. The monstrous state he had just displayed was the result.

Now, when he activated the third statue's technique of the Heaven Defying Prison Skill, he could simultaneously invoke the bloodlines of the Mountain Giant Ape, True Dragon, and Sky-roaming Kun Peng. When transformed into the three-headed and six-armed form, his body possessed the enormous power of three True Spirits simultaneously, making the might far superior to before.

As of now, the backlash threat from these three True Spirit bloodlines had been completely resolved by him. As for the remaining few other True Spirit bloodlines, they could be resolved in the same way in the future.

According to Han Li's speculation, when he completed the cultivation of all the techniques of the Heaven Defying Prison Skill, he would be able to cultivate four different three-headed and six-armed forms, like the four statues. Each head would transform into the appearance of three True Spirits.

However, there was a certain randomness in this process, and the outcome was still unclear.

After resting for a moment, just as Han Li was about to get up, he suddenly found that the entire crystal palace began to shake violently. In the seclusion hall where he was, all the patterns on the walls and floors lit up without being activated.

His expression changed slightly, then his eyebrows twitched, and he flashed out of the hall door.

When Han Li arrived at the main hall where Crab Taoist was, he saw Crab Taoist floating out of the crystal coffin at the moment, enveloped by a substantial layer of white light.

His whole body was flashing with countless profound orifice light points, densely packed like stars in the sky, even more than the profound orifices on E'Luo's body.

Han Li's gaze swept over and quickly identified that Crab Taoist had a total of one thousand eight hundred profound orifices on his body!

Crab Taoist's body floated in mid-air for a moment, and as the starlight around him flickered, he exuded an overwhelming aura, several times stronger than before.

With Han Li's strength, he couldn't withstand this pressure and stood outside the hall, unable to step in, feeling shocked in his heart.

"This aura... could it be that Brother Crab's strength has reached the level of Dao Ancestor?"

"Huh?... What's this?" Han Li's face then flashed with a hint of surprise again.

Because there was clearly another figure lying in the crystal coffin at the moment, identical to Crab Taoist, except that the entire body was golden, and now the eyes were tightly closed, as if in deep sleep.

"Two Crab Taoist? No, this is not a person." He quickly recognized that the one lying in the coffin was not a person, but a golden puppet. However, Han Li keenly sensed that the aura of this puppet was somewhat strange. It was not a simple puppet, and something seemed to be sealed inside.

The floating Crab Taoist slowly opened his eyes, shooting out two dazzling golden lights, dignified and powerful.

The golden light then quickly spread out, enveloping Crab Taoist completely, filling the entire hall, and even Han Li outside the hall was covered.

Han Li's face was delighted. Being enveloped by this golden light, the nearby pressure in the void actually dissipated rapidly, and the fairy spiritual power within his body could operate normally, just like when he fought E'Luo before.

He immediately activated the fairy spiritual power, broke open the restrictions of the Fazhi space, and let his divine sense enter to check on Jiu Hun's situation.

Jiu Hun looked the same as before, with no changes, which relieved him.

As for Crab Taoist, his entire body was enveloped in golden light and his figure looked somewhat blurry. He looked up at the sky and then disappeared in a flash.

In the next moment, his figure appeared out of thin air above the Thousand Machines Hall.

Crab Taoist's golden light became even stronger, like a golden sun, illuminating all around.

Black One and Black Two, ordered to guard outside the hall, were both shocked to see this scene.

Before they could react, they felt their bodies enveloped by the golden light, and the pressure in the void around them suddenly vanished. The demonic energy in their bodies even began to flow freely.

However, the two had been in the Jilin Empty Realm for too long, and most of the demonic energy in their bodies had dissipated, with only a tenth remaining, so they didn't feel it strongly.

In the underground palace, as Crab Daoist's figure disappeared, the dazzling golden light that filled the entire palace also disappeared without a trace.

Han Li felt the flow of the fairy spirit power in his elixir field become sluggish again, but it did not completely solidify, because the omnipresent sense of oppression from before was no longer present.

After he settled his mind, he used his divine sense to locate Crab Daoist's position, barely mobilized his fairy spirit power to perform the escape technique, and in the next moment appeared on the ground, continuing to bathe in the golden light, and the fairy spirit power restored its agility again.

At this moment, Crab Daoist was standing with his hands hanging at his sides, looking up at the sky, his eyes revealing some excitement and some expectation.

Han Li was puzzled in his heart and also looked up at the sky.

At this moment, the originally bright sky suddenly became gloomy, and the originally dense yellow clouds also turned into a gray-black color at a speed visible to the naked eye, revealing an extremely heavy pressure.

This pressure was as high as the heavens and as heavy as the earth, vast and mighty, and unstoppable.

Han Li's body, suspended in mid-air, suddenly became heavy, as if being pressed by a giant peak. With a "plop" sound, he fell from mid-air directly to the ground.

"This is the aura of a great calamity of heaven and earth!"

Han Li's heart suddenly moved, and his expression changed.

The upcoming great calamity aura was so strong that it was many times more powerful than any thunder calamity he had experienced before. Even the slight signs revealed just now were already impossible for him to resist.

Black One and Black Two were originally standing on the ground and received much less impact than Han Li, but at this time their legs were trembling uncontrollably and their faces were pale.

"You guys stay away, this is not something you can bear." Crab Daoist's powerful voice came down from mid-air.

Black One and Black Two heard the words and dared not slack off. They hurriedly flew towards the distance.

Han Li didn't wait for Crab Daoist to speak. With a flash of golden lightning on his body surface, he disappeared without a trace. In the next moment, he appeared in the air hundreds of miles away, looking back in the direction where Crab Daoist was.

The golden light on Crab Daoist's body could no longer shine here, but he only glanced back, and without saying a word, he turned around and continued to shoot towards the distance with all his strength. In the blink of an eye, he advanced hundreds of miles again.

But within a thousand miles, the sky was still dark, and in the rolling of wind and clouds, it quickly spread in all directions, obviously he was still within the range of the great calamity.

The sky above his head looked even more gloomy, almost turning pitch black, reflecting the ground below into a black mass, and the silence revealed a sense of murderousness.

Han Li was shocked in his heart and hurriedly sped up his escape from the center position again.

But at this moment, the sky suddenly rang out with a slight "hiss hiss" sound. The dark clouds in the sky suddenly rolled violently towards a certain direction, continuing to gather towards the center, forming an incomparably huge vortex, covering an unknown range.

Bolts of black lightning appeared in various places of the vortex, traveling like fireworks, illuminating the ground below.

And soon, a black hole appeared in the center of the vortex, emitting a deep light, as if connected to an unknown place.

Boom!

An aura of terror, many times more vast than before, emanated from the vortex, and the surrounding void shook violently, distorting completely.

Han Li had nowhere to avoid and was directly pressed down by this huge aura.

Buzz!

His mind spun, and even though he had opened nearly nine hundred profound orifices at this moment, he was still an ant in the face of this great force. His vision went black and he fainted.

However, before he fainted, Han Li saw with the corner of his eye a grey cloud fly out from the center of the huge vortex and cover Crab Daoist.

The grey cloud looked ordinary, but it emitted a terrible aura of destroying everything. He was hit by this aura of destruction, which caused him to fall into a coma.

...

In the Demon Domain, within a pitch-black palace in Night Sun City.

The Demon Lord's body was enveloped by a soft silver light, forming a huge silver ball of light, slowly rotating.

The surrounding void rippled with the rotation of the light ball, visible to the naked eye.

"Eh!"

He suddenly opened his eyes, the silver light on his body surface instantly disappeared, and he looked towards the void outside.

"This is coming from the Jilei Empty Realm, could it be..." The Demon Lord's face flashed with a coldness, and he slowly stood up.

...

In the Luoheng Mansion.

Third Prince Shi Pukong stood outside a large hall, looking towards the distant horizon, his face filled with an uncertain expression.

...

In a certain dark void, a slight 'eh' sound suddenly rang out. In the darkness, a black figure could vaguely be seen.

"Unexpectedly, it was accomplished so quickly? It's getting lively now." The black figure smiled, and with a flicker, he disappeared into thin air. Han Li found himself trapped in a terrifying nightmare. His body felt as if it was submerged at the bottom of a ten thousand zhang deep icy cold lake, completely unable to move. Moreover, there were strands of cold power as fine as dust, like small fish invading every part of his body, causing immense pain.

After an unknown period of time, the cold power gradually disappeared, and then a vast warm current entered his body, extremely comfortable.

Han Li slowly woke up and found himself lying on the ground.

The sky above his head had turned purple, and there was a soft and warm aura in the air.

He suddenly remembered something and looked towards the direction of the Thousand Machines Hall.

He saw the Crab Daoist still standing in midair, his whole body charred black, with huge scars appearing on it. He looked like a piece of broken wood after being struck by lightning and scorched by fire.

But above him, in the center of the vortex, a mass of purple auspicious clouds gradually emerged and descended, enveloping the Crab Daoist's body and rapidly permeating into it.

The Crab Daoist's battered body absorbed the purple auspicious clouds and immediately recovered at a speed visible to the naked eye, healing completely in the blink of an eye.

All the purple light in midair rapidly condensed into a purple rainbow.

A thick crystal light also rose from the Crab Daoist's body and merged with the purple rainbow.

With a "boom", the purple rainbow suddenly expanded several times in size and turned into a purple dragon, circling and dancing around the Crab Daoist's body.

Within the purple auspicious light, countless crystal threads could be seen, densely packed and emitting vast law fluctuations as the light flashed.

Han Li was enveloped by this law fluctuation, and his body involuntarily moved, as if he were a puppet being pulled by strings.

The nearby void and ground were the same, automatically trembling non-stop.

Fortunately, after the purple dragon circled and danced for a while, it quickly disappeared into the Crab Daoist's mind, and the vast law fluctuation disappeared without a trace.

The Crab Daoist's body was enveloped in purple auspicious light, his eyes tightly closed, as if sensing the changes inside his body.

After a while, the light on his body flashed, and all the purple light disappeared, revealing his figure.

At this moment, the Crab Daoist was wearing a light purple robe and straw sandals, seemingly unchanged, but the power that could shake the world surrounded him with every move.

But in the next moment, with a slight movement of his eyebrows, the power on his body immediately disappeared.

In a flash, all the strange changes in the sky also disappeared, and the nearby sky returned to its previous appearance, and the terrifying pressure emanating from the sky also dissipated.

Han Li felt his body lighten, and he slowly stood up, though he still felt a bit heavy-headed and light-footed.

Hei Da and Hei Er were lying on the ground over a hundred miles away from him. The two seemed to have been injured much more severely than Han Li, and were still unconscious at the moment, but fortunately they had escaped in time and should not be in any life-threatening danger.

The Crab Daoist turned his head and looked in Han Li's direction, and with a movement of his feet, he disappeared into thin air and appeared beside Han Li.

"Crab Fellow Daoist, you..." Han Li looked at the Crab Daoist with a surprised expression.

"I didn't expect the Dao Heavenly Tribulation to be so vast and to come so quickly, so I didn't have time to let you leave earlier, causing you to be affected by the great tribulation." The Crab Daoist said.

As they spoke, he waved his hand.

Han Li felt a warm current enter his mind, and his spirit immediately shook, and the heavy-headed and light-footed feeling immediately disappeared.

In the distance, Hei Da and Hei Er's bodies also stirred, and although they were still unconscious, their injuries were gradually recovering.

"Dao Heavenly Tribulation... Don't tell me you have already reached the Dao Ancestor realm?" Han Li couldn't care less about his physical condition and stared at the Crab Daoist with wide eyes.

"After countless years of bitter cultivation, going through many ups and downs, and the separation and reunion of body and mind, today I have finally attained the Great Dao by luck." The Crab Daoist said with a smile.

"That's really congratulations to you." Although Han Li had guessed it earlier, he still let out a light breath when he heard this, and then congratulated him.

"The success I have today is also thanks to the help of Fellow Daoist Han, so I thank you here." The Crab Daoist bowed slightly.

"I dare not, since you have attained the position of Dao Ancestor, I am ashamed to accept the title of Fellow Daoist. Just call me Han Li." Han Li hastily said.

"Fellow Daoist Han, you and I have been friends for many years, and I also know that you are a free and easy person, so why bother with these worldly etiquettes? Just call me Crab Fellow Daoist, I still like this title." The Crab Daoist waved his hand.

"Since that's the case, then I will shamelessly call you Fellow Daoist. By the way, Crab Fellow Daoist, did you just say your surname is Shi?" Han Li also smiled, then asked.

"Yes. My original name is Shi Kongjie, I didn't mean to hide it from you, it's just that I hadn't remembered it before, and after entering the Jilei Void Boundary, many things happened, so I didn't have time to tell you." The Crab Daoist nodded and said.

"Shi Kongjie... Could it be that Fellow Daoist Shi has some relationship with the Night Sun Dynasty?" Han Li hesitated for a moment, but still asked.

The Crab Daoist looked up at the sky and did not answer Han Li's question for a moment.

"If Fellow Daoist Shi has any secrets that are difficult to tell, then just pretend I didn't ask." Han Li glanced at the Crab Daoist's expression and said.

Now that the Crab Daoist had reached the Dao Ancestor level, he couldn't help but feel awe in his heart and spoke very cautiously.

"Fellow Daoist Han is overthinking, there are no secrets that are difficult to tell, it's just that returning to the Sacred Domain this time, I feel a bit emotional. Fellow Daoist Han, you have protected me all the way here, so emotionally and logically, I should inform you of these matters. Moreover, I have something to ask of you, so you must know these things." The Crab Daoist smiled faintly and said meaningfully.

"You have something to ask of me? I wonder what it is, but please feel free to tell me." Han Li was shocked when he heard this, and said so.

"It's not very convenient to talk here, let's go back underground first." Crab Daoist glanced around, his eyes seeming to flash, and waved his hand.

Han Li suddenly felt his body enveloped by a gentle force, and in the blink of an eye, he appeared in the underground palace.

The other golden "Crab Daoist" in the crystal coffin had also awakened at this moment and was standing aside with his hands down.

Not only that, but there were also two human-shaped puppets standing beside him.

These two puppets also looked exactly like the Crab Daoist, except that one was completely black and the other was pure white.

The black puppet looked at the Crab Daoist with fierce light flashing in his eyes, as if he wanted to choose someone to devour. His expression was indescribably grim.

The white puppet, however, was gentle and solemn, with a warm smile always on his face, making people feel at ease when they looked at him.

Han Li was slightly startled when he saw this scene and looked towards the Crab Daoist.

However, the three puppets did not pay attention to Han Li, and their eyes were all focused on the Crab Daoist.

The golden puppet did not speak, a hint of strangeness flashed in his eyes, and then he looked away.

"Hmph! This time, you were lucky to survive the Heavenly Tribulation, but don't be too proud. Sooner or later, I will kill you and take your place!" The black puppet sneered coldly.

"Congratulations, fellow Daoist, you have finally attained the Great Dao. You summoned us here, do you have something to instruct us to do?" The white puppet looked exactly the same, but his expression was completely different. He said with a gentle smile.

"There are indeed some things that I need the three of you to do. Black Spirit fellow Daoist, please go to the Puppet City and inform Sha Xin that I have come out of seclusion, so that she can make preparations." The Crab Daoist instructed the black puppet.

Although the black puppet was unwilling, he still turned around and left without saying a word.

"White Spirit fellow Daoist, please go and remove the spatial restrictions around the Great Ruins, and then bring all the people from the Puppet City here." The Crab Daoist said to the white puppet.

The white puppet agreed and also turned to leave.

"As for the Golden Spirit fellow Daoist, you go and prepare. Later, I will activate the power of the Jilin Empty Realm's origin at the right time and open a spatial passage connecting to the outside world." The Crab Daoist said to the golden puppet.

The golden puppet nodded and also left the palace.

Han Li watched as the three puppets left one by one, with a pensive expression on his face.

"Fellow Daoist Han seems to be very curious about these three puppets." The Crab Daoist sat down on a chair next to the palace and had Han Li sit down beside him, saying calmly.

"Yes, I am. These three puppets seem to have complete spiritual intelligence. I wonder what kind of puppets they are?" Han Li nodded and asked.

"With your experience and knowledge, Fellow Daoist Han, I'm afraid you already have some idea. Why don't you tell me what you think?" The Crab Daoist said with a faint smile.

"It seems that I really can't hide anything from Fellow Daoist Crab. These three puppets, could they be related to the three corpses you cut out?" Han Li's eyebrows twitched, and a smile appeared on his face as he spoke.

"Haha, Fellow Daoist Han is right. I really did seal the three corpses I cut out into these three puppet bodies." The Crab Daoist laughed heartily.

"I've heard that cultivators above the Daluo stage have a lot of trouble dealing with the three corpses they cut out. The three corpses cannot be killed, as killing them will cause some harm to the main body. But keeping them by your side, those three corpses may backlash at any time. That's why the immortals in the Heavenly Court would try every means to seal them in the Gray Realm. It's amazing that Fellow Daoist Crab can seal the three corpses into puppets and keep them by your side to make use of them!" Han Li said in surprise.

"Fellow Daoist Han, you are right. The three corpses are indeed difficult to deal with. Most Daluo or Dao Ancestors will seal the three corpses they cut out. I dare to keep them by my side because I cultivate the Puppet Laws, which specialize in control. That's why I'm confident enough to keep them by my side." The Crab Daoist said.

Han Li nodded silently, feeling that he had gained a lot.

Such experiences beyond the Daluo stage were not something that could be heard casually.

"Fellow Daoist Crab, let's get back to the point. What were you talking about just now?" He then asked again. "This matter is not urgent, Fellow Daoist Han, listen to what I have to say first. My identity, as you guessed, is indeed related to the Night Sun Dynasty. To be precise, I am the younger brother of the current Holy Emperor Shi Kongyu, and also the uncle of Shi Chuankong." Daoist Xie said slowly.

Although Han Li had guessed that Daoist Xie had a significant relationship with the Night Sun Dynasty, he didn't expect it to be like this, and he was secretly shocked.

"Daoist Xie, since you are the brother of the Demon Lord, why are you in this Jilei Empty Realm? Moreover, from what Ahuai and the Sand Heart City Lord said before, it seems that you are currently enemies?" He carefully chose his words and asked.

"The story behind this is long. It dates back to when the two of us were fighting for the position of Holy Emperor. I won't go into the details, but in the end, he won, and I lost. The space laws I had bitterly cultivated in my body were even extracted by him. Fortunately, I still had some skills, and with the help of others, I managed to narrowly escape from Shi Kongyu's hands and hide in this Jilei Empty Realm." Daoist Xie said calmly.

Han Li's expression didn't change, but he was shocked by the revelation.

Daoist Xie's explanation was simple, but the battle back then must have been extremely intense. Moreover, Daoist Xie's statement that "the space laws in his body were extracted" left Han Li utterly astonished.

However, it seemed that this matter was related to the secrets of the Night Sun Dynasty, so he didn't ask further.

"I see. But Shi Kongyu wouldn't just let you go, right?" Han Li nodded and then said.

"Of course not. Shi Kongyu appears to be elegant and magnanimous, but in reality, he seeks revenge for the slightest grievance. He naturally wants to cut the grass and eliminate the roots. However, Jilei Empty Realm is a special space that has existed in the Dao Domain since ancient times. The cultivation of those who enter here will be completely suppressed, and those with magic power and cultivation above the Great Luo Realm simply cannot set foot here. Shi Kongyu cannot enter this place, so I was able to save my life." Daoist Xie nodded and said.

"Great Luo Realm cultivators cannot enter this Jilei Empty Realm... Could it be that someone has set up restrictions here? But are there really restrictions that can limit Shi Kongyu?" Han Li frowned and said, feeling a bit incredulous.

"Jilei Empty Realm was opened up by an ancient Dao Ancestor. That senior set up this strict rule in this space. It is precisely because this rule is too harsh and destroys the balance of the heaven and earth laws here that this place is so desolate." Daoist Xie explained.

"Oh, there is such a thing." Han Li was stunned when he heard this, and then he looked around, a hint of shock flashing in his eyes.

He had now cultivated laws more deeply, but he could only influence a certain range around him with the laws, and everything would return to normal after retracting the laws.

That ancient Dao Ancestor could actually affect the entire Jilei Empty Realm with his own laws, and it remained unchanged for hundreds of millions of years. Han Li truly could not reach this level at his current stage.

"Fellow Daoist Han, your cultivation has not reached this level, so you don't quite understand these matters. But with your aptitude, I believe you will reach this level soon." Daoist Xie seemed to smile.

"I hope it will be as Daoist Xie says. Since there are such rules here, how could you enter this place, and even break through to the Dao Ancestor realm here?" Han Li changed the subject and asked.

"Back then, Shi Kongyu extracted the laws from my body, causing my cultivation to plummet and fall to the Taiyi Realm, which allowed me to enter here. Moreover, after coming here, I was fortunate enough to obtain the Dao inheritance left behind by that ancient Dao Ancestor, making me half the master of this Jilei Empty Realm, so I was not restricted by the rules here." Daoist Xie explained.

"I see. Then what happened next? How did you become a puppet and end up in the lower realm?" Han Li suddenly realized and asked.

"Staying here, my cultivation of space laws had reached a dead end, so I switched to cultivating another profound law, the puppet laws, which was also the law that ancient Dao Ancestor cultivated. I had a good aptitude for the puppet laws, and with the help of that senior Dao Ancestor's Dao inheritance, I finally reached the Great Luo Realm, and then I even killed two more corpses, reaching the peak of the Great Luo Realm. However, when I was killing the last corpse, I was betrayed by Ahuai, and Shi Kongyu intervened, causing my efforts to fail at the last moment, and my physical body even perished. With no other choice, I had to seal my soul's memories into a puppet, which was that golden crab, and throw it into the lower realm to prepare for a comeback in the future. You should know the rest of the story, Fellow Daoist Han, so I won't explain everything." Daoist Xie sighed and continued.

"What is the favor you mentioned earlier that you need my help with?" Han Li listened and slowly nodded.

"Although I have now achieved the position of Dao Ancestor, if I were to fight against Shi Kongyu, I would still likely lose. To avenge the past, I need to find external help." Daoist Xie looked at Han Li and said.

"Daoist Xie, do you want to join forces with me to fight against Shi Kongyu?" Han Li's eyebrows raised, and he said in surprise.

"Yes." Daoist Xie nodded with a smile.

"Daoist Xie thinks too highly of me. I may have some skills, but I am just a minor cultivator at the Taiyi Realm. Compared to Shi Kongyu, there is an unimaginable gap. How could I possibly help you?" Han Li laughed.

"There's no need to belittle yourself, Fellow Daoist Han. In the short term, you indeed pose no threat to Shi Kongyu, but with your aptitude and fortune, you will reach our level one day. Moreover, with so many mysterious cavities opened in your body now, once you leave here, your strength will soar. I believe that day is not far off." Daoist Xie said with a smile.

Han Li's heart stirred when he heard this. It turned out that Daoist Xie had been tirelessly helping him improve his physical cultivation for this reason.

However, although he and Daoist Xie were friends, their previous agreement had been fulfilled. Now, rushing into a struggle between two Dao Ancestor-level powers could easily result in being reduced to dust.

Thinking of this, he couldn't help but show a hesitant expression.

"Fellow Daoist Han, rest assured. I'm not asking you to stay here now. I just hope that when your strength is sufficient in the future, you can come back and lend me a hand. Moreover, I, Shi, will not let you participate in my struggle with Shi Kongyu for nothing. Consider this item a small token of interest for today's agreement." Daoist Xie took out a jade bottle and handed it over.

Han Li took the jade bottle and opened it to find a ball of white light slowly rotating inside. With each rotation, the white light would flash and expand, as if it possessed life.

At the center of the light was a white pill. Countless specks of light flickered on its surface, looking extremely profound and emitting an overwhelming aura of life.

"What is this?" Han Li's eyes flashed.

The aura emitted by this pill was somewhat similar to the Crab Daoist's heart.

"This pill is called the Mysterious Truth Pill. I used the elemental essence energy and combined it with many other precious materials to refine it. Although this pill is not used to refine the True Soul, it contains a lot of 'Mysterious Truth Essence', which is enough for you to advance to the Great Luo stage in the future." The Crab Daoist said slowly.

Han Li was both surprised and delighted. He had seen the name "Mysterious Truth Essence" in ancient books many times. It was the key to advancing to the Great Luo realm.

To advance to the Great Luo realm, in addition to having sufficient cultivation and unblocking the 360 immortal cavities, the most important thing was to complete the transformation of the soul, turning it from an ordinary soul into a Great Luo True Soul.

To complete this transformation, the Mysterious Truth Essence was required.

The Mysterious Truth Essence was extremely precious. It was said that only by passing through the Nine Heavens' Wind and entering the extremely dangerous outer void could one find a trace of it in the purest place between heaven and earth. It was truly a divine object of the Mysterious Heaven.

Now, Han Li finally understood the reason why Shi Zhanfeng entered the Accumulated Scale Void. He guessed that it was also to obtain enough Mysterious Truth Essence for his future advancement to the Great Luo realm.

"Thank you, fellow Daoist Crab. This is indeed what I need." Han Li did not decline and accepted the jade bottle.

Seeing Han Li accept the bottle, a smile appeared on the Crab Daoist's face.

"Fellow Daoist Crab has given me such a treasure. I, Han, am not an ungrateful person. When my cultivation is sufficient in the future, I will definitely come back to help you." Han Li said solemnly.

"Then I will thank you in advance. This small Mysterious Truth Pill is far from enough to repay fellow Daoist Han's kindness. If there is anything I can do for you, please feel free to ask." The Crab Daoist said with a smile.

"Since fellow Daoist Crab said so, there is indeed one thing I would like to trouble you with." Han Li's heart stirred and he said.

"Oh, what is it? Please tell me." The Crab Daoist was slightly stunned, then immediately said.

"It's still about Ti Hui's matter. Fellow Daoist Crab, your divine power has greatly increased. I hope you can diagnose her." Han Li said.

More than a thousand years ago, the Crab Daoist had only taught him a sealing technique and could not let him examine Ti Hui carefully at that time.

"No problem." The Crab Daoist immediately nodded and then pointed his finger.

A golden light entered Han Li's body and turned into a golden ball of light in his dantian, constantly spinning.

As before, the pressure of the surrounding space immediately disappeared, and the spiritual energy in his body resumed circulation. He immediately opened the branch space.

The two of them entered the pavilion inside.

Ti Hui was lying on the bed, her body covered in black lines, forming a sealing formation that emitted waves of sealing aura.

This was the sealing technique that the Crab Daoist had taught him.

The Crab Daoist walked to Ti Hui's side and carefully examined her for a moment, his brows suddenly furrowing.

Seeing the Crab Daoist's expression, Han Li's heart couldn't help but tighten, and his face turned slightly gloomy.

The Crab Daoist raised his hand and pointed at the center of Ti Hui's eyebrows. The tip of his finger revealed a black crystal light that rippled outwards in circles.

Ti Hui's body trembled slightly, and her cultivation seemed to recover a bit, as if she was about to wake up.

Seeing this, Han Li was immediately overjoyed.

But in the next moment, Ti Hui's body resumed its silence and stopped moving.

The Crab Daoist's expression changed slightly. He flipped his hand and a beam of black light shot out from his palm, entering Ti Hui's forehead.

Ti Hui's body trembled again slightly, then immediately resumed its silence.

The Crab Daoist's face turned solemn. He slowly withdrew his hand and his brows were tightly locked.

"Fellow Daoist Crab, how is Ti Hui's condition?" Han Li asked uneasily.

"Ti Hui's condition is very peculiar. It seems that she has been injured by some kind of extremely powerful law force, causing her soul and vitality to continuously dissipate. I can only stabilize her condition, but to cure her, I am powerless." The Crab Daoist shook his head and said.

"With your cultivation as a Dao Ancestor, you can't cure Ti Hui. Who else can cure her?" Hearing this, Han Li's heart turned cold and he said slowly.

Although the Grand Priest of the Demon Race had not yet diagnosed Ti Hui, with the Crab Daoist's strength, he was still unable to do anything. It was feared that the Grand Priest's intervention would also be useless.

"You don't have to be so discouraged, Dao Ancestor. I am not omnipotent. The puppet laws I cultivate specialize in control and are not good at saving people. The mysteries of the countless laws in the world are far beyond your imagination. Although I can't save Ti Hui, someone else can." The Crab Daoist said with a light smile.

"Is that so? Who is this person?" Han Li was stunned for a moment, then immediately asked anxiously.

"It's the Grand Priest of the Sacrificial Temple that Shi Chuankong told you about before. This person cultivates laws that target the soul and has reached an extremely high level. He should be able to cure Ti Hui." The Crab Daoist said.

"I see. Thank you for your guidance, fellow Daoist Crab." Hearing this, Han Li's eyes lit up and he cupped his fists in gratitude.

Now that the Great Prince was dead, it would probably be much more troublesome to ask the Grand Priest to act. It might even develop into a direct conflict with the Night Sun Dynasty. But for Ti Hui's sake, he couldn't care about so much anymore. "Senior Xie, when will you open the spatial passage?" Han Li's thoughts raced, and he quickly made up his mind to ask.

"Although I have now advanced to the Dao Ancestor realm, opening a spatial passage connecting to the outside still requires some preparation. Moreover, opening the spatial passage this time is not just for you alone. I have other arrangements, so let's wait until Sha Xin and the others arrive. It will be in about half a year." Xie Dao Ren pondered briefly before replying.

Han Li nodded slowly, naturally having no objections.

The two then left the flower branch space and returned outside.

Xie Dao Ren went to handle matters related to opening the spatial passage and soon took his leave. Han Li returned to his previous closed-door cultivation location.

After Xie Dao Ren left the main hall, he quickly arrived at a hidden secret room.

In the secret room, only a single oil lamp was lit, its dim light illuminating a small area while the rest remained pitch black.

At this moment, a hazy black figure stood beside the oil lamp with his hands behind his back.

Xie Dao Ren saw the black figure but showed no surprise on his face, as if he had expected this.

"Dao friend Shi, after many years of hard work, you have finally succeeded in one go. Congratulations." The black figure turned around, his face blurred and his body indistinct, as if not a physical entity but a projection.

"All thanks to your guidance back then. In my youth, after slaying two corpses, I rashly attempted to kill the third. But due to flaws in my state of mind, even if that villain E Wu hadn't lured the Shi Kong fish, that attempt to kill the corpse would have surely failed. Fortunately, at the critical moment, I received your guidance to seal my soul's memories into a puppet, transforming into a puppet to experience the puppet path in the lower realm. Now I have gone from puppet to human, finally comprehending the true meaning of the puppet laws and succeeding in one fell swoop." Xie Dao Ren bowed deeply to the hazy figure, expressing his gratitude.

"It was just a bit of cultivation experience. Dao friend Shi's ability to comprehend it is also due to your own extraordinary perception." The hazy figure said calmly.

"No matter what, I will never forget Senior Shi's great kindness." Xie Dao Ren said solemnly.

"I don't want to hear such empty words of thanks. I came this time to ask you if the agreement from back then still stands." The hazy figure said.

"Of course. Shi Kong Yu caused me such misery. If I don't properly repay him, it would be too easy on him." Xie Dao Ren sneered.

"Shi Kong Yu has controlled the demon domain for a long time and is very powerful, far beyond what you, a minor Ji Lin Kong realm cultivator, can handle. Moreover, although you have now attained the Dao Ancestor position, fighting alone is still far inferior to Shi Kong Yu. Don't be impatient. We will slowly plan for the long term." The hazy figure's eyes flashed with a hint of joy before advising.

"I understand. I won't make the same mistake twice. Senior, rest assured." Xie Dao Ren nodded and said.

"That's good. By the way, I came this time because there is something I need your help with." Hearing this, the hazy figure nodded slightly before speaking.

"Senior, please tell me." Xie Dao Ren was stunned for a moment before quickly responding.

The hazy figure walked over to Xie Dao Ren's side and moved his lips slightly.

Hearing this, Xie Dao Ren instinctively glanced in one direction, his expression changing slightly.

...

Han Li's closed-door cultivation location.

The golden sphere of energy in his dantian was much fuller than before, still spinning rapidly without dissipating.

Han Li sat cross-legged and circulated his immortal spiritual power, causing a burst of golden light to emanate from his body.

Since entering the Ji Lin Kong realm, he had not operated his immortal spiritual power so smoothly for over a thousand years. At this moment, he felt extremely comfortable.

The power of the time laws that had been dormant in Han Li's body for many years was finally no longer restrained and surged wildly inside him like a tidal wave.

A buzzing sound rang out as a golden wheel appeared behind him, spinning rapidly. It was the Zhen Yan treasure wheel.

Then, a flash of light appeared on the other side of his body, revealing the Guang Yin bottle. With successive flashes of light, the Fantasy Chen hourglass, the Broken Time fire, and the East Yi divine wood all emerged, revolving around his body on their own.

Han Li frowned. The Zhen Yan treasure wheel and other items had now appeared automatically, not triggered by him.

"Could it be happening again..." he thought, startled, muttering to himself.

At this moment, threads of time law crystals flew out from these objects, converging into a golden ring that spun rapidly.

All the time law power in Han Li's body swarmed out and merged into the golden ring.

The golden ring quickly expanded, doubling in size in the blink of an eye. It emitted dazzling golden light and trembled violently, producing a sharp buzzing sound.

With a whoosh, a green light flew out from his chest. The green light then shrank and transformed into a dark green small bottle, which was the Palm Heaven bottle.

The bottle's body burst with light, like a green sun, while simultaneously emitting a powerful attractive force.

Another whoosh rang out.

The golden ring shot towards the bottle, rapidly shrinking until it was the same size as the bottle's mouth before directly fusing with it.

Upon contact, a vast amount of time law power rippled out from the Palm Heaven bottle.

The bottle then quickly expanded as countless green symbols appeared within it, transforming into a mass of green clouds that churned endlessly.

Immediately after, green light flashed from the bottle's mouth as a thick green beam shot out and disappeared into the void in front of it.

Boom!

The void in front of him cracked open, and countless crystal lights surged out from it, condensing into a crystal wall with countless scenes flashing rapidly on it.

With a "chila" sound, the light on the crystal wall suddenly burst out, revealing a huge vortex that rotated endlessly, emitting a tremendous suction force that enveloped Han Li's body.

Han Li's expression remained unchanged, and he did not dodge. He allowed the suction force to pull his body.

However, at this moment, the golden light sphere in his dantian suddenly flickered and went out. The fairy spiritual power within his body came to an abrupt halt, and the suction force emitted by the vortex also greatly decreased. Han Li's body, which had been pulled up, stagnated in midair and then fell back to the ground with a "plop" sound.

However, a pain shot through his mind, and his divine soul was helplessly sucked into the vortex. His vision went black, and he lost consciousness.

When Han Li regained consciousness, he found himself by the side of a vast river in a wilderness.

In the river, countless water droplet-like light spheres were still suspended, flowing forward with a rumbling sound, looking no different from before.

At this moment, Han Li was in his divine soul form, hovering by the side of the river.

"Back in this place again, I wonder what this place really is?" Han Li looked around and murmured to himself.

His thoughts turned, and instead of approaching the river and entering one of the light spheres, he went upstream along the river, wanting to explore this place thoroughly.

He was now in a divine soul state, like a white cloud drifting in the air, moving with the wind, not very fast.

The desert scenery remained unchanged, and no matter where he went, it felt the same. There was no alternation between day and night here, and the flow of time was very vague.

Han Li continued forward, estimating that he had walked for about seven or eight days, but the river beside him showed no change at all.

Gradually losing patience, he endured for another two days, but the river beside him still showed no change.

"Forget it, I don't know how far this place is, or maybe there's some kind of illusion or prohibition here, so continuing on is probably a waste of time." Han Li stopped, pondered for a moment, and looked towards the river, about to leave.

At this moment, a yellow light flashed above his head, and a yellow cloud several feet in size appeared, with two black eyes the size of beans in the cloud, looking at Han Li.

"You are the Bottle Spirit!" Han Li was startled when he saw the yellow cloud appear, and then immediately recognized the true form of the yellow cloud.

The black eyes in the yellow cloud blinked twice, as if observing him.

"I wonder why you have appeared at this moment, what is the matter?" Han Li frowned slightly and asked again.

As soon as he finished speaking, the yellow cloud suddenly lit up, and a yellow crystal light shot out from it, entering his divine soul at an extremely fast speed.

Han Li's divine soul had no time to dodge, and the yellow crystal light had already entered his body, turning into a warm current and fusing into his divine soul.

He was greatly shocked and was about to question, but the Bottle Spirit's yellow cloud above his head disappeared again in a flash.

Han Li stood there in a daze for a moment, then carefully examined the situation inside his divine soul, but found nothing unusual and no discomfort.

He was silent for a moment, temporarily putting the matter aside, and came to the side of the river, looking at the countless shuttling light spheres in the river.

After so many transits, he had a general guess about the origin of the light spheres in the river.

Each of these light spheres represented a time node in the past, and entering one would take him back to that moment in the past.

Han Li's face showed a pensive look, and his eyes flickered.

The ability of the Mastery Sky Bottle to traverse time was unheard of, and if it could be completely mastered, the benefits would be immeasurable.

Not to mention anything else, with this ability, it would be much easier to investigate past events.

However, there were really too many light spheres in the river, and there seemed to be no pattern, making it somewhat chaotic. As for traversing to a specific time, one could only rely on luck.

Han Li sighed and secretly thought that it would be great if he could control the time nodes of the transit. At this moment, he wanted to investigate whether what the Crab Daoist had just said was true or false.

After the Crab Daoist merged with the sacred corpse this time, his cultivation soared, reaching the realm of Dao Ancestor. However, a rift had developed between the two, and they were no longer as close as before.

What the Crab Daoist had just said seemed logical and without flaws.

However, Han Li always felt that there seemed to be something hidden.

At this moment, a sudden change occurred.

The light spheres in the river suddenly fluctuated violently, as if a wave had suddenly risen.

Then, swish swish swish -!

More than a dozen light spheres of varying sizes flew out from various parts of the river and stopped in the river near Han Li, no longer flowing forward.

Han Li's face showed a surprised look, and he carefully examined those light spheres.

As with the previous light spheres, various scenes appeared on them, but this time the scenes on the light spheres were similar, all showing a beautiful palace.

"This palace looks somewhat familiar." Han Li murmured, took a couple of glances, and immediately realized.

The palace on the light spheres was the group of buildings near the Thousand Machine Hall. From the scenes on these light spheres, a fierce battle was taking place in various parts of the palace.

Han Li was greatly surprised. After pondering for a moment, his gaze fell on the largest light sphere, and he took two steps closer.

The light sphere suddenly released a tremendous swallowing force, and with a "swish" sound, it sucked Han Li's divine soul in. Han Li's vision went dark, and he lost consciousness once again.

...

Unknown how much time had passed, Han Li slowly regained consciousness. He discovered that he had possessed the body of a young man wearing black armor, lying in a half-collapsed palace, with a gaping hole in his lower abdomen where the dantian should be, blood gushing out.

A semi-transparent golden wheel hovered above his head, with more than a thousand temporal runes flickering on it.

Continuous loud noises came from nearby, indicating an intense battle was taking place.

Han Li's heart stirred, but he did not immediately control the man in golden robes to stand up. Instead, he used his spiritual sense to communicate with the man's remaining memories.

Suddenly, a vast amount of memories flooded into Han Li's mind, and he hurriedly digested them. It took a while before he completely absorbed the information.

This man in golden robes was named Wu Xuan, a prisoner who was imprisoned in Jilin Empty Realm. Later, he was taken in by Shi Kong Jie, also known as Crab Daoist, and served as Crab Daoist's personal guard due to his considerable strength.

Over a hundred years ago, Crab Daoist began closed-door cultivation, attempting to cut off the last corpse to take the crucial final step. The entire Jilin Empty Realm was on high alert.

Unexpectedly, a large group of enemies suddenly attacked today, directly targeting the Qianji Palace where Crab Daoist was cultivating.

Seeing Wu Xuan's memories, Han Li's eyes revealed a strange light.

Previously, by the riverbank, he had the idea of investigating the drastic changes that happened to Crab Daoist back then. Now that he arrived here, could it be that he could control the nodes of time?

The more Han Li thought about it, the more he felt it was not a coincidence. Although he didn't know why, he indeed gained the ability to control temporal nodes.

Perhaps it was due to the spirit in the bottle from before, or maybe it was for some other reason.

Regardless, this was the best thing that could happen to him.

Han Li quickly stood up and went to the collapsed entrance of the palace, looking outside.

In the sky outside, he could occasionally see puppets fighting each other, as well as some people with the ability to fly, engaging in fierce battles, creating earth-shaking noises.

Among the two sides in combat, one side wore black armor like Wu Xuan, while the other side wore purple-black battle armor.

Han Li was not unfamiliar with the purple-black battle armor; it was the guard armor of the Night Sun Dynasty.

These people from the Night Sun Dynasty had abnormally tall and large bodies, with dark green skin revealing dragon-shaped patterns. With their fangs exposed, they looked like ferocious ghosts.

Although there were not many of these people, they were extremely powerful, incredibly strong, and fast as lightning.

Although Jilin Empty Realm had more people, they were at a disadvantage.

"Those are the Nightmare Dragon Guards. It seems that back then, it was indeed Shi Kong Yu who attacked." Han Li thought to himself.

When he chatted with Shi Chuan Kong, he had heard him mention the various secret legions of the Night Sun Dynasty, and they had discussed the Nightmare Dragon Guards many times. This was a legion composed purely of body cultivators, directly under the command of the Demon Master.

At this moment, it seemed that these Nightmare Dragon Guards were indeed extraordinary. Each one of them had the strength of an expert who had opened at least 150 mystic apertures.

After taking a couple of glances at the battle outside, Han Li's gaze shifted towards the distance.

From here, he could vaguely see four nine-story pagodas standing in the four corners of a white jade square.

And in the center of the square, there stood a majestic glazed palace - the Qianji Palace.

The closer to that place, the more intense the fighting became.

After a brief contemplation, Han Li pulled his armor to cover the wound on his lower abdomen. He then activated the "Ten Thousand Apertures Empty Silence Technique", and his figure shot out towards the Qianji Palace.

Using the nearby palaces as cover, he quickly approached the Qianji Palace.

At first, relying on the "Ten Thousand Apertures Empty Silence Technique", he went unnoticed. However, the closer he got to the Qianji Palace, the more intense the fighting became, and the more people there were. Eventually, he was discovered.

A Nightmare Dragon Guard holding a battle knife charged towards Han Li like lightning. The sound of exploding bones rang out from within his body like a string of firecrackers. The purple-black battle knife in his hand transformed into a dragon-shaped knife light, slashing towards Han Li's head.

Wu Xuan had only opened a little over a hundred mystic apertures, roughly equal to the strength of a Nightmare Dragon Guard. However, Han Li was now controlling this body, and his eyesight, knowledge, and judgment were naturally vastly different.

His body swayed left and right, transforming into nine shadows, instantly dodging the knife slash. The nine shadows then converged into one behind the Nightmare Dragon Guard, and Wu Xuan's body emerged, continuing to shoot forward.

The Nightmare Dragon Guard was about to give chase but was blocked by other people from Jilin Empty Realm, forcing him to abandon the pursuit.

Seeing that his actions had been exposed, Han Li decided to let loose. He weaved left and right through the crowd of intense battles, squeezing every bit of strength from this body and pushing his movement technique to the limit. He never stopped, avoiding engaging with others, and quickly approached the Qianji Palace.

The battle here was even more intense, with people from both sides fighting together at the entrance of the palace.

"That is..." Han Li hid behind a nearby wall of ruins, looking towards the entrance of the palace.

The leader of the Jilin Empty Realm faction was none other than Sha Xin. She was controlling five puppets, fighting fiercely with a person wearing cyan-colored battle armor.

That person was none other than E Chu.

His entire body's mystic apertures were flashing with light, approximately six to seven hundred. In his hand, he held the Barbaric Dragon Sword.

The appearances of the two had not changed much, but their temperament was distinct and sharp, lacking the smoothness they would develop later.

"E Chu, you actually colluded with Shi Kong Yu to harm our master. You deserve to die ten thousand deaths!" Sha Xin shouted angrily.

"Those who understand the times are brilliant. Shi Kong Jie will undoubtedly die today. Sha Xin, considering our past friendship, I advise you to surrender to the Holy Emperor. With your strength, the Holy Emperor will surely make good use of you." E Chu said with a smile.

"Dream on!" Sha Xin snorted coldly, controlling the five puppets to launch a massive attack.

Xue scoffed coldly, his Barbaric Dragon Sword transforming into a gust of black wind that swirled around him, blocking all of the puppet's attacks.

At the same time, his sword energy surged out, entangling the five puppets and Sha Xin, preventing them from leaving.

The other Nightmare Dragon Guards formed a combined attack formation, tightly blocking the people from the Ji Lin Empty Realm, not allowing them to enter the gate.

Upon seeing this, Han Li's thoughts raced, and in the next moment, he flew out, transforming into a black shadow that pounced towards the entrance of the main hall.

The three Nightmare Dragon Guards in front of him immediately noticed Han Li and attacked simultaneously. A golden sword light, a bright snow-white saber glow, and a green spear shadow all struck towards Han Li at the same time.

Han Li didn't slow down at all. Instead, he fiercely stomped on the ground, increasing his speed by three points, taking the initiative to crash into the attack range of the three people in front of him.

However, at the same time, he waved his arm, and a green shadow shot out from his sleeve, agile like a snake, wrapping around the weapons of the three people in an instant, revealing a green long whip.

This item was obtained on the way here from a fallen Nightmare Dragon Guard.

With their weapons entangled by the green long whip, the three people's movements were hindered.

Han Li once again fiercely stomped on the ground, his skin faintly revealing a blood color. His body swayed left and right, once again transforming into several blurry afterimages, his speed increasing by a few points compared to before. In a flash, he bypassed the three people and continued to rush towards the Thousand Machine Hall.

He had already made up his mind not to waste time entangling with anyone. He spared no effort in forcing this body to unleash all its potential in order to enter the Thousand Machine Hall.

But at this moment, a purple-black figure suddenly appeared in front of him.

This person had an extremely tall body, a full two heads taller than the average Nightmare Dragon Guard. On his purple-black armor chest, there was an extra golden dragon head pattern, looking like a leader.

He drew a circle in the air with one of his thick arms, and substantial black light emanated from his hand, enveloping the several human shadows that Han Li had transformed into.

The several human shadows, once covered by the black light, instantly slowed down significantly, as if they were being fixed in place.

"Hmph! A mere trivial body technique, also daring to show off!" The Nightmare Dragon Guard leader sneered coldly, turning his right hand from a claw into a fist and fiercely striking down.

A violent black fist wind erupted from his fist, and the several human shadows dispersed rapidly like bubbles upon contact with the black fist wind.

However, Han Li's figure did not appear, as if he had disappeared.

"This..." The Nightmare Dragon Guard leader was instantly stunned.

"Above!" Xue's voice transmitted over, and the Nightmare Dragon Guard leader quickly looked up upon hearing it.

He saw a blurry human shadow appearing several yards above the Nightmare Dragon Guard leader's head, and it was Han Li.

At this moment, the blood color on his body surface was even heavier, almost dripping with blood, but his speed was faster, bringing with him afterimages, whistling as he flew over the Nightmare Dragon Guard leader's head.

The Nightmare Dragon Guard leader wanted to reach out to intercept, but it was already too late.

"When did Wu Xuan have such strength!" Sha Xin also noticed this scene, a hint of surprise flashing through his eyes, but he immediately waved his hand.

"Useless!" In the sky, Xue's face turned furious as he saw this scene, and he waved his arm.

Nearly a hundred profound orifices on his arm suddenly lit up, faintly revealing strands of blood light.

In the next moment, the Barbaric Dragon Sword in his hand transformed into a black afterimage and shot out from his hand, instantly appearing half a yard behind him, stabbing towards the center of Han Li's back.

Han Li's expression changed slightly, his body moving sideways to dodge, but the speed of the Barbaric Dragon Sword was really too fast, unable to completely avoid it, and his left arm was about to be split open.

His eyes flashed, but he didn't do anything else, allowing the Barbaric Dragon Sword to chop down, his body shooting towards the front.

But at this moment, a golden shadow shot out from the side, instantly blocking behind Han Li, revealing a golden eagle puppet, its two golden sharp claws grabbing towards the Barbaric Dragon Sword.

The Barbaric Dragon Sword easily destroyed the two golden sharp claws, and with a "puchi" sound, it pierced into the chest of the eagle puppet, penetrating it in one shot, but the power of the Barbaric Dragon Sword was also exhausted, stopping there.

Han Li's face revealed a surprised expression, but his body didn't stop at all. Ahead, there were no more obstructions, and his shadow flashed as he rushed into the Thousand Machine Hall.

Xue's face turned furious, and he suddenly looked towards Sha Xin.

Sha Xin's mouth revealed a smile, proudly looking at Xue.

"Send a few people into the hall to kill that thief, absolutely not allowing him to hinder the Holy Emperor!" Xue couldn't be bothered with Sha Xin, shouting angrily.

Xue's authority seemed quite high, and four Nightmare Dragon Guards immediately left the battle formation, chasing towards the hall. The face of that Nightmare Dragon Guard leader turned iron-blue, and he also pounced towards the hall.

Sha Xin's gaze shifted, and with a flutter of his ten fingers, the head of the eagle puppet that was pierced through by the Barbaric Dragon Sword opened its eyes.

Two golden lights shot out from its eyes, flashing and disappearing into the stone wall beside the hall door.

With a "peng" sound, the originally open two hall doors suddenly closed.

The Nightmare Dragon Guard leader and others couldn't stop their momentum, crashing into the door. The tall hall door only flickered with white light, remaining motionless.

"You..." Xue's eyes emitted a cold light, filled with killing intent as he looked towards Sha Xin.

"The Thousand Machine Hall door has already closed, and there is a prohibition set up by the owner himself on the door. With your abilities, forget about opening it. Xue, you miscalculated this time!" Sha Xin suppressed the astonishment in his heart and sneered. Han Li looked at the palace door that suddenly closed behind him, slightly stunned, but then ignored it and walked into the palace to take a look.

The situation inside the Qianji Palace was exactly the same as what he saw many years later. There were broken table and chair fragments everywhere, and some broken bone armor puppets, obviously having just experienced a fierce fight.

At this moment, there was not a single person in the palace, but it was filled with a blood-colored fog everywhere, emitting a sweet smell.

This blood fog was harmless. On the contrary, Han Li's body had become much slower due to the activation of potential before. As soon as he touched this blood-colored fog, it immediately eased a lot.

He was surprised in his heart, but he didn't pay much attention to these things. His body flashed and he rushed to the back of the palace.

As expected, the black stone chair was still there.

He was overjoyed and grabbed the stone chair, turning it fiercely.

With a "click" sound, a black passage appeared on the ground behind the stone chair, leading to the underground.

Han Li was overjoyed in his heart. The mechanism here had not changed.

He activated the "Wanqiao empty silence technique", and his body shot down. He followed the stone steps inside skillfully and quickly, and soon came to the door hole at the end of the stone steps.

Behind the door hole was the huge underground cave. The rumbling sound came from inside the cave, and each sound was like a thunderbolt exploding, causing the entire underground cave to shake.

Han Li silently came to the side of the door hole and carefully looked outside.

The underground cave was not much different from later. Inside, there was a large blood lake, which was now violently rippling.

However, there was no crystal coffin in the center of the lake, but a blood-red square stone platform suspended in the air.

Around the stone platform stood nine tall blood-red jade pillars, on which countless lines were engraved, emitting dazzling blood light, condensing into a thick blood-red light cover, enveloping the stone platform.

On the stone platform, a figure was sitting cross-legged, who was the Crab Daoist. His whole body was wrapped in dazzling golden light.

At this moment, his eyes were tightly closed, his eyebrows were locked and trembling, as if he was suffering from great pain.

The Crab Daoist's body was also trembling slightly, and strands of phosphorescent gray-white fog flew out from all over his body, floating towards the top of his head.

At this moment, it had already condensed into a large group of Qi, rolling and surging, vaguely forming a human shape.

On the empty ground beside the blood lake, three figures were intertwined, fighting fiercely.

The rumbling sound was caused by the three of them fighting.

The three figures, one black, one white, and one purple, were fighting. The black and white figures were actually the two slashing puppets of the Crab Daoist. The purple figure was a middle-aged man wearing purple armor.

Han Li had also seen this man's appearance, who was the Demon Master Shi Kongyu.

"This is not right. This feeling is not a real person, but also a puppet!" Han Li looked at him twice, and his heart moved. He immediately judged the true body of Shi Kongyu.

It makes sense. The Jilin Space does not allow people above Daluo Realm to enter. Naturally, Shi Kongyu's real body cannot be brought in, so he can only be attached to the puppet.

The three of them moved as fast as lightning, and most of the time they could only see three blurry shadows. With Han Li's reaction speed, he could barely keep up with the movements of the three.

The three figures were sometimes divided and sometimes combined. Every time they fought, they burst out thunderous roars and extremely strong spatial fluctuations.

The underground cave seemed to have a prohibition. The spatial fluctuations hit the cave, causing it to shake a little, but it didn't have much effect.

The blood lake was rolling like raging waves, and the blood-colored fog became more and more dense, filling the entire underground space.

The purple puppet of Shi Kongyu was very powerful. His whole body was wrapped in purple electric arcs. When he moved, he was like a purple electric dragon crossing the void, causing a low and muffled rumbling sound. Wherever he passed, he easily drew curved spatial cracks.

The Crab Daoist's two slashing puppets were also very powerful, and their bodies were wrapped in a layer of golden light, not suppressed by the Jilin Space, so they could use demonic energy and law attacks.

Unfortunately, Shi Kongyu's puppet was too powerful, and the two slashing puppets still couldn't defeat him.

However, Shi Kongyu couldn't do anything about the two slashing puppets, and the two sides fought to a draw.

After a fierce collision, both sides retreated.

" Fellow Daoist Shi Kongyu, don't try anymore. Although your puppet is extraordinary, it is still not as good as us. I think you should retreat. Fellow Daoist Shi no longer cultivates the Space Law and will not pose a threat to you. Why don't you find a way to resolve your past grievances and live in peace? After all, we are all people of the Holy Realm, and the Heavenly Court is our enemy." The white Crab Daoist said.

Shi Kongyu snorted, ignoring what the white Crab Daoist said. His figure flickered and disappeared.

The white Crab Daoist's face changed slightly, and his body quickly moved sideways to dodge. He had just moved 2-3 meters away when a fist flashing with thunder light appeared and hit the position where the white Crab Daoist had been standing.

With a "puchi" sound!

The place where the fist hit seemed to tremble and shatter like the surface of a lake, and a black hole the size of a water tank collapsed.

At this moment, a black shadow flashed over Shi Kongyu's head. It was the other black Crab Daoist appearing out of thin air.

He held a black battle knife in his hand, and with a series of "hissing" sounds, black knife lights burst out, condensing into a black lotus, and enveloping Shi Kongyu.

Where the knife light passed, the void seemed to be cut open like paper!

:。:

Shi Kongyu faced the black crab Daoist's war knife in the air without fear. He raised his arm and punched upwards, his fist bursting with purple lightning.

Boom!

The clash of fist and blade caused the space to shake violently, tearing open seven or eight spatial cracks.

Shi Kongyu and the black crab Daoist were both pushed back by the impact.

But soon, the three of them fought fiercely again.

Han Li, who was hiding in the distance, was initially shocked by the scene, but his expression quickly returned to calm, with a pensive look on his face.

The situation here was exactly as the crab Daoist had told him not long ago. It seemed that the crab Daoist had not lied to him. The intensity of this battle far exceeded what he had described.

Han Li looked up at the illusory circular wheel in the sky. Many of the time runes on it had already been extinguished.

He withdrew his gaze and wondered if he should leave now.

In fact, there was no point in him continuing to stay. He could not do anything for the crab Daoist from back then with his weak body. And for him, who already knew that the future crab Daoist would achieve the Dao Ancestor realm, everything happening now might not necessarily be a bad thing.

Just as he was considering whether to go somewhere else, a loud collision sounded and the fierce battle suddenly stopped.

Shi Kongyu's figure shot backwards, stopping near the entrance of the underground cave.

Han Li was shocked and quickly hid in the shadows behind the door, running the Wanqiao Empty Silence Technique at full strength to suppress his aura.

Shi Kongyu did not attack again. He just stood there, a smile even appearing on his face.

Since the enemy did not attack, the two Slash Corpse Puppets did not make a move either.

However, seeing the expression on Shi Kongyu's face, the two puppets frowned like ordinary people, their expressions lifelike and no different from real humans.

"Friend Shi Kongyu, we are evenly matched. No matter how long we fight, there will be no outcome. I'll say it again, you should leave." The white crab Daoist slowly opened his mouth.

"You're right, I've long known that we are evenly matched and it's almost impossible to defeat you," Shi Kongyu said with a slight smile.

Behind the entrance, Han Li heard Shi Kongyu's words and was slightly stunned.

If what Shi Kongyu said was true, why did he fight so hard against the two Slash Corpse Puppets for so long? It was clear he had other intentions!

The two Slash Corpse Puppets also realized this problem now. Their expressions sank and they immediately transformed into black and white light, pouncing towards Shi Kongyu.

"Haha..." Shi Kongyu laughed loudly, completely ignoring the actions of the two Slash Corpse Puppets. He suddenly punched his chest.

With a splattering sound, a fist-sized gray bone flew out from his body. A black symbol resembling a dried octopus was engraved on it.

The moment the gray bone left Shi Kongyu's body, gray flames immediately appeared on its surface, burning fiercely.

Within the gray flames, countless black symbols faintly emerged, condensing into a human face pattern. Its features were ferocious, filled with deep grief and resentment. It let out rapid and crazed strange noises that shocked those who saw it.

Immediately, a cold and eerie law fluctuation spread out from the gray flames and dispersed in all directions.

Jilei empty realm rejected all other elemental energies and law powers were no exception.

As soon as this cold law appeared, it began to weaken, but it did not immediately disappear. It continued to disperse, quickly filling the entire underground space.

Han Li was behind Shi Kongyu, closest to him, and was the first affected by this law power.

He felt his mind go dizzy as an invisible force directly penetrated deep into his soul, stirring it.

Han Li's originally pure soul suddenly dimmed, as if covered with a layer of dust. His soul force churned, the small person in his soul letting out irritated roars.

He saw various bizarre illusions, signs that inner demons were arising.

At the same time, Han Li felt nauseous, his body experiencing a desire to vomit that he had not felt in countless years, wanting to throw up his internal organs.

"What is this law?!"

Han Li was greatly shocked and hurriedly severed his connection to his physical body while running his soul cultivation technique at full power to stabilize his soul's fluctuations.

The two Slash Corpse Puppets were also enveloped by the cold law power, their faces immediately showing pain.

"Curse law!" The two puppets' expressions changed drastically. They immediately stopped and pounced towards the crab Daoist with all their strength.

At the same time, black light surged around them as two intense law fluctuations erupted, enveloping the crab Daoist and his blood-colored barrier.

Although the two puppets moved fast, they were still a step too late. A cold law force invaded the blood-colored barrier before they could deploy their law defenses, entering the crab Daoist's body.

Pfft!

Inside the blood-colored barrier, the crab Daoist, who was originally making an all-out attempt to break through to the Dao Ancestor realm, was attacked by the curse law. He spat out a mouthful of blood.

The light around him became chaotic, and the human-shaped light mass above his head fluctuated violently, showing signs of collapse.

The crisis back then was actually nothing much. Although Shi Kongyu was powerful, he was similarly suppressed in the Jilei Empty Realm and couldn't display much of his strength. His main goal was to disrupt Fellow Daoist Shi Kong's breakthrough. After succeeding with one strike, he immediately retreated and didn't pursue us to the death. As for outside help, we were imprisoned here and couldn't easily leave. We had basically no contact with the other forces in the Saint Realm. Shi Kongyu single-handedly dominated the Saint Realm, and the other forces were still trying to avoid us, let alone lend a helping hand." Daoist Crab smiled and spoke with a calm tone.

"I see." Han Li was silent for a moment before nodding with a smile.

"I still have some matters to attend to. Fellow Daoist Han, please feel free to do as you wish." Daoist Crab nodded slightly and turned to leave.

Han Li watched Daoist Crab's departing figure with a slight frown. The matters from back then, whether Daoist Crab or the two Soul Seizing Puppets knew the inside story, from the looks of Daoist Crab, even if he did know, he clearly wouldn't easily tell others. Asking Daoist Crab probably wouldn't yield any answers.

Wanting to understand the truth from back then, he could only slowly investigate elsewhere.

After pondering briefly, Han Li quickly walked outside to the main hall.

Inside the main hall stood quite a few people. Besides Daoist Crab, there were over twenty others, including Violet Spirit, Sha Xin, Madam Six Flowers, Shi Chuan Kong, Zhuo Ge, Xuan Yuan Xing, and even the Zhu siblings.

In an empty space on the other side of the great hall, a white stone platform was set up.

At the top of the stone platform was a round magic formation several meters in size, emitting bursts of golden light.

Powerful spatial fluctuations emanated from the formation, causing the space above the formation to ripple like water, forming a spinning vortex several meters in size.

"Fellow Daoist Han, you've arrived." Daoist Crab stood up to welcome him.

Seeing this, Sha Xin and the others also enthusiastically greeted Han Li.

Violet Spirit stood behind Sha Xin. Her bright eyes also looked over, sensing that the aura Han Li emitted was even more powerful and vast, his temperament more mature and steady. Her beautiful eyes couldn't help brightening.

"Fellow Daoist Han feels guilty for making everyone wait for him." Han Li cupped his hands and said.

"Not at all, Sha Xin and the others only just arrived. This transportation formation leads to the outside world. I will open it shortly. Fellow Daoist Han, if you have any matters to attend to, please handle them now." Daoist Crab glanced at Violet Spirit, his words carrying a hidden meaning.

Hearing this, Han Li's expression froze.

After Daoist Crab said this, he pointed and a golden light entered Han Li's body, restoring the flow of Immortal Qi within him.

After doing all this, Daoist Crab stood up and walked over to the formation.

Sha Xin immediately followed. The two spoke in low voices, seemingly discussing the transportation matters.

Han Li was somewhat baffled by Daoist Crab's actions, but being able to circulate his Immortal Qi again was definitely a good thing.

He collected himself and walked over to Violet Spirit. With a wave of his hand, he set up a sound barrier and was about to speak when Violet Spirit stopped him with a wave.

"I only came here this time to see you off, don't overthink it." Violet Spirit smiled enchantingly and said.

"You plan to continue staying here?" Han Li's eyes flashed with surprise before glancing at Daoist Crab with sudden realization.

So Daoist Crab already knew Violet Spirit planned to stay, which was why he spoke the way he did earlier and even restored Han Li's Immortal Qi.

"The Heaven Destroyer Prison Technique you taught me, after researching it these years, I find it truly profound. The star power in the Jilei Empty Realm is dense, making it an ideal place to cultivate this body refinement technique. I plan to increase my strength here some more before going to the Devil Realm." Violet Spirit nodded and said.

"That's good. The Devil Realm is not very safe right now. This Jilei Empty Realm is actually safer. You should cultivate well here." Han Li stared at the stunning beauty before him for a long time before finally speaking, his voice unusually calm.

"I've also started cultivating the Divine Essence Technique you taught me." Violet Spirit's beautiful eyes were filled with determination as she continued.

"I knew you would definitely cultivate this technique." Han Li was silent upon hearing this, then sighed.

"I have decent talent in divine sense cultivation, no worse than you Han, I'm sure. Since you can cultivate this Divine Essence Technique, of course I can too." Violet Spirit blinked playfully.

"Since you plan to cultivate this technique, then do as you wish. But if any problems arise during cultivation, remember to contact me immediately." Han Li instructed.

"Okay." Violet Spirit nodded with a smile.

Han Li led Violet Spirit to the side, took out some special items from his Starry Sky Bracelet, and put some other things in.

"This bone bracelet looks a bit ugly, but it's a storage bracelet that can be used in the Jilei Empty Realm. It's quite practical. Since you've chosen to stay, I'll give this to you." Han Li then took off his Starry Sky Bracelet, lifted Violet Spirit's left hand, and put it on her.

"This item is too precious, I can't accept it. You should keep it for yourself." Violet Spirit was shocked and immediately tried to take off the bracelet.

"No need. I'm about to leave this place. Outside, this bracelet will be completely useless." Han Li stopped Violet Spirit's movements and transmitted with a smile.

"Right, I almost forgot." Violet Spirit was stunned, then laughed.

"The bracelet contains the latter nine layers of the Heaven Destroyer Prison Technique, as well as a Wheel Turning Hall mask. If you need to contact me in the future, you can use this item. In addition, there are some other things, all of which will be useful to you now." Han Li continued to explain.

Violet Spirit's eyes flashed with a hint of tears as she nodded lightly.

"When I'm not by your side, if you encounter any difficulties you can't resolve, don't stubbornly resist. Remember to seek help from Fellow Daoist Crab." Han Li reminded again. After a long discussion off to the side, the two walked back.

Han Li's gaze shifted, looking towards Shi Chuankong.

Seeing this, Shi Chuankong stepped forward.

"Daoist friend Han, since entering the Jilin Void, I have relied on your help, and I am deeply grateful. This time I came, like Daoist friend Zi Ling, just to say goodbye to you. I don't plan to leave the Jilin Void for now." Shi Chuankong nodded at Zi Ling, looking very familiar, and then said to Han Li.

"Daoist friend Shi doesn't plan to leave either?" Han Li was slightly stunned, and couldn't help but touch his nose.

"Third brother is now untrustworthy, and my strength is still very weak. Instead of returning to the Night Sun Dynasty now and being bullied by others, I might as well stay here and cultivate. Besides, with your relationship, Daoist friend Han, I'm living quite comfortably here." Shi Chuankong said with a smile.

"That's good, then I'll leave Zi Ling in your care." Han Li nodded.

The Crab Daoist is now at odds with the Demon Master, and Shi Chuankong staying here, I don't know if it's voluntary or coerced.

Although he and Shi Chuankong are friends, his relationship with the Crab Daoist is deeper, and now that he has allied with him, these matters are not easy to ask about.

"Now Daoist friend Zi Ling is a big celebrity in Puppet City, where does she need me to look after her? These years, I have mostly relied on Daoist friend Zi Ling's care." Shi Chuankong laughed heartily.

"Daoist friend Shi is too kind. You are Brother Han's friend, so naturally you are also my friend, and since you are the Thirteenth Prince of the Night Sun Dynasty, there may be many things to rely on Daoist friend Shi after leaving the Jilin Void." Zi Ling said with a smile.

"Of course." Shi Chuankong said, patting his chest.

Seeing this, Han Li's heart was slightly relieved.

This way, whether Zi Ling is in the Jilin Void or in the Demon Realm in the future, there will be someone to look after her.

"After I leave, you take care of yourself." Han Li's lips moved slightly, transmitting a message to Zi Ling.

"Take care." Zi Ling transmitted back.

"Daoist friend Han, I heard from Daoist friend Zi Ling that you will soon return to the Immortal Realm after leaving the Jilin Void. I am staying here and cannot help you. Speaking of which, the rewards I promised you before, I have hardly fulfilled any of them, which makes me ashamed." Shi Chuankong sighed and said.

"Daoist friend Shi is too kind. You helped me find Zi Ling, which is enough. I will handle the other things myself." Han Li waved his hand.

Hearing this, Shi Chuankong's face looked slightly better.

"By the way, besides you two, are all the other people here going to be sent back to the Saint Realm?" Han Li glanced at the others and transmitted a message.

"Yes. Daoist friend Crab seems to have some plan." Zi Ling said.

Han Li nodded slowly upon hearing this.

After chatting for a while, Crab Daoist seemed to be ready and called Han Li over.

Han Li, Sha Xin and others quickly boarded the transmission formation.

But the Crab Daoist did not step on it. He chanted in his mouth, bent his finger and pointed.

The transmission formation burst out dazzling golden-white light, and the speed of the space vortex above it suddenly increased. A dark space passage soon emerged.

A huge space suction force emanated from the space passage, enveloping Han Li and others.

Han Li looked up at Zi Ling, their eyes meeting.

In the next moment, Han Li and others disappeared into the space passage with a "swoosh" sound.

Zi Ling's body trembled slightly, her beautiful eyes staring blankly at the place where the figure disappeared, as if she was in a daze.

...

Above a barren forest in the Demon Realm, a dazzling white light suddenly appeared out of thin air and quickly expanded, forming a white light ball dozens of meters in size in the blink of an eye.

The space inside the light ball rolled violently. After a few breaths, a cracking sound was heard, and a black space door opened.

In the next moment, more than twenty figures flew out of the space door one by one. After the initial panic, everyone quickly stabilized their figures. They were Han Li, Sha Xin and others.

Han Li felt the spiritual energy of the surrounding world and the disappeared space pressure, revealing a relieved look on his face. The others were the same.

Han Li took a deep breath and quickly calmed down. His divine sense spread out, exploring the surrounding terrain and confirming his location.

After a few breaths, his eyebrows moved, as if he had discovered something.

"Daoist friend Han, I am entrusted by my master and have some things to do. I will take my leave now. We will meet again later." Sha Xin bowed slightly to Han Li, then without waiting for Han Li to reply, she left with the others in a hurry.

Seeing this, Han Li's eyes flashed.

He didn't stay here any longer. Turning into a streak of cyan rainbow light, he shot towards the distance, disappearing without a trace in the blink of an eye.

The moonlit city, a wide and bustling main street in the city center, branched off into a narrow alleyway.

The alleyway was secluded, with no one in sight, and at the end of it stood a weathered stone wall, covered in the marks of time.

As the sun set, the fading light of the evening sun cast an orange glow on the wall.

At this moment, the space behind the wall rippled, and a figure clad in a blue robe suddenly appeared, revealing Han Li.

As soon as he entered the alley, he turned his wrist and pulled out a mask from the Wheel of Rebirth, putting it on his face. A wave of light rippled out, and he transformed into a young demon with a short horn on his forehead, walking towards the entrance of the alley.

As he exited the alley, he saw a giant banyan tree with lush branches and leaves, its canopy stretching out like an umbrella, and seven or eight people gathered under the tree, chatting idly.

Han Li had not yet approached when he heard a loud-voiced black-clad man say, "I think the Third Prince is doing a good job ruling. In the past, if you wanted to visit the Mahayana district, you had to go through repeated identity checks, but now it's much more convenient for both merchants and cultivators."

"I disagree," said an elderly man with a thin build, "When the First Prince was in power, the law and order in the Raksha district, Mahayana district, and even our own Black Heaven district were all much better. Look at the situation now, street fights break out every few days, and when they do, it's not just the people involved who get hurt, but also the innocent bystanders."

"If only the two princes could work together and rule jointly..." said a young demon boy, leaning against the elderly man, "that would be perfect."

The others laughed at this suggestion.

"I'm a traveler from outside the city," Han Li said, walking up to the group and bowing, "Could you tell me where I am?"

"Ah, you're from outside the city?" said the middle-aged man, looking at Han Li with curiosity, "We're in the southernmost part of the Black Heaven district. Where are you headed?"

"I'm going to the Mahayana district to visit a senior member of my clan," Han Li said, feigning ignorance, "I thought I was almost there, but it seems I'm still in the Black Heaven district. This city is really big..."

The elderly man smiled and said, "You're new here, aren't you? Hurry up and rent a carriage at the market ahead, or you'll be walking for who-knows-how-long to get to the Mahayana district."

Han Li nodded, but didn't leave, instead asking, "I overheard your conversation earlier, and I'm a bit confused. Isn't the Holy Ruler in power?"

The middle-aged man laughed and said, "You're from a remote village, aren't you? News travels slowly there, I suppose. The Holy Ruler has been in seclusion for 500 years, and now the Third Prince is in power."

Han Li's eyes widened in surprise, and he asked, "But wasn't the First Prince in power before?"

The elderly man chuckled and said, "The First Prince has been missing for over a thousand years. Some say he's in seclusion, others say he's traveling, and some say he's been imprisoned by the Holy Ruler. There are all sorts of rumors, but no one knows the truth."

Han Li thanked them and left, walking along the main street towards the market.

...

Several days later, on a moonless night.

In the northern part of the imperial city, a series of connected palaces were brightly lit, with demon guards patrolling the grounds, their spears at the ready.

In the shadows of the palace walls, a figure clad in black was moving swiftly, dodging between the buildings with ease. It was Han Li, his aura suppressed, relying solely on his physical strength to move undetected.

As he moved, he noticed that the palace's defensive arrays were like an open book to him, and he avoided them with ease.

Before long, he arrived at a beautiful, isolated palace.

Without approaching the door, Han Li wrinkled his nose, sensing the strong scent of medicinal herbs. He noticed that the windows were all closed, and a faint mist was rising from the roof.

After a brief examination, he pressed his hand against the door's lock, and a burst of silver light flashed out, destroying the hidden symbols and disabling the lock.

Han Li pushed open the door and slipped inside, his figure flashing into the palace.

As he entered, he was met with a sudden gust of wind, and he dodged to the side, his fists flying forward, striking the two figures that had been hiding in ambush.

The two figures crashed to the ground, their bodies limp and lifeless.

Han Li had not intended to kill them, so he had struck them with precision, hitting their vital points and rendering them unconscious. "If not to kill, then it's to seek something...” A hoarse voice sounded, accompanied by the splashing of water.

Han Li didn't immediately respond, instead gazing forward.

In the center of the palace, a large water pool resembling a heavenly well was filled with a dark, viscous liquid that seemed to be slowly churning. The misty vapor emanating from it was rising into the air.

From within the pool, a stout figure slowly emerged, its body covered in a massive black cloak that obscured its head and body, making its face impossible to discern.

"Is the friend's surname Li?" the person asked, seeing Han Li's silence.

The stout figure slowly walked out of the pool, its body seemingly surrounded by flames as it radiated intense heat, quickly drying the black cloak.

Han Li's heart stirred slightly at the mention of his surname, but he didn't confirm or deny it, instead asking, "Is the friend the Grand Priest?"

"How can it be that Friend Li has come all this way, yet still can't determine if I'm the one he's looking for?" the Grand Priest asked.

"The Grand Priest is known for being reclusive and secretive, so it's unusual that he's so unguarded today. That's why I'm a bit uncertain," Han Li replied, his brow furrowed.

"Being within the heavily guarded palace, with two Taichi initial-stage cultivators serving as bodyguards, doesn't count as being heavily guarded? Ha ha, I think Friend Li is just too skilled," the stout man chuckled.

"Time is short, so I won't engage in wordplay with you. Since you're the Grand Priest, you should know what I'm seeking," Han Li asked, his expression unchanging.

"I've known for over a thousand years, but unfortunately, I'm unable to fulfill your request," the Grand Priest sighed.

"Unable to fulfill... if that's the case, then I'll just have to take your head and go see the real Grand Priest," Han Li sneered.

"It seems Friend Li still doesn't believe me. I am the Grand Priest," the hoarse voice replied, sounding somewhat helpless.

"You're the Grand Priest, yet you haven't even looked at me. How can you be sure you can't help me?" Han Li asked sternly.

"Over a thousand years ago, I cast a divination, and the results showed that the matter is impossible," the Grand Priest explained.

"Impossible doesn't mean it can't be done. Why must you say you can't do it?" Han Li sneered.

"Knowing that something is impossible yet still attempting to do it is a great taboo," the Grand Priest shook his head.

"It's been over a thousand years since then. Why not cast another divination? Perhaps the situation has changed," Han Li suggested, suppressing the turmoil in his heart.

The Grand Priest was taken aback by Han Li's words, then smiled and said, "If that's the case, I'll cast another divination. If the results still show that it's impossible, will Friend Li not force me to do something I'm unwilling to do?"

Han Li didn't respond.

The Grand Priest saw Han Li's expression and shook his head, then rubbed his hands together and produced five silver coins, which he tossed into the air. His other hand swiftly reached out, palm up, and caught the coins.

The five coins were arranged in a plum blossom pattern in his palm, with two or three of them showing their reverse side.

The Grand Priest manipulated the coins for a moment, then suddenly changed expression, his brow furrowed as he exclaimed, "You're an extraordinary person! Why is your fate so chaotic?"

"Grand Priest, it seems you've calculated something you shouldn't have," Han Li's voice turned cold.

As soon as he spoke, the surrounding air was filled with flashing lights, and nine Cloud-Drifting Swords shot out, cutting through the space around them and pointing at the Grand Priest.

The Grand Priest's eyes flashed with a strange light, as if he had suddenly remembered something, and he asked, "Friend Li, are you surnamed Han?"

"It seems you're truly seeking death..." Han Li's expression remained unchanged as he spoke.

"I think that, as a fellow member of the Wheel of Reincarnation Temple, Friend Li wouldn't do such a thing," the Grand Priest said, his voice hoarse as he laughed.

He slowly raised his arm, and a pale, bloodless hand emerged from his sleeve, holding a round, palm-sized token with the words "Wheel of Reincarnation Token" engraved on it.

Han Li's gaze changed slightly, and his heart was filled with doubt.

"Did you learn of my identity through the Wheel of Reincarnation Temple's internal news?" Han Li asked, his Cloud-Drifting Swords still unsheathed.

"That's not important... what's important is that the matter you're seeking can be accomplished today," the Grand Priest said, shaking his head.

Han Li didn't respond, instead raising his hand to summon a silver light door that floated in the air, revealing a small room inside.

"This... could it be the legendary Cavern of the Heavens treasure?" the Grand Priest asked, surprised.

"Not bad, Grand Priest. Please wait..." Han Li nodded and said.

He stepped into the room, lifted the wailing spirit, and turned to return to the palace.

The high priest saw the situation and waved his hand, causing the water in the pool to churn and a white jade stone bed to slowly rise from the water. The bed was covered in a layer of frost, and on top of it lay a young woman with a pale complexion, her face serene and her chest still. It was as if she were a perfectly preserved corpse.

The high priest walked forward, removing his hood to reveal a handsome young face with a pale complexion. He gazed at the woman's body, then turned to Han Li and said, "Brother Han, please remove the puppet seal from her body."

Han Li nodded and stepped forward, his hands forming a seal as he conjured a white starlight force from his palm. The force flowed from the woman's head, down her neck, shoulders, and finally to her feet, where it exited through the Yongquan acupoint.

As the force passed through each acupoint, a thin white bone needle emerged from her body, each one covered in intricate symbols. Han Li collected the needles, and as he did, the woman's eyebrows furrowed, and her body began to convulse violently.

The high priest's eyes widened as he sensed the woman's aura, and he exclaimed, "This is...!"

Han Li explained, "She is not human, but a creature known as a 'Xing Shou' or 'Punishment Beast', a type of heavenly beast."

The high priest nodded, "I understand. As a Punishment Beast, she possesses the power of the Wheel of Reincarnation, one of the three supreme laws of the universe. I couldn't sense her aura earlier, but now that the seal is removed, I still can't sense any power within her. This must be why she fell into a coma."

Han Li nodded, "That's correct. She was affected by a certain law of the universe, which caused her to lose her connection to her innate power."

The high priest continued, "If we can use the Wheel of Reincarnation law to awaken her, she should recover."

Han Li's expression turned skeptical, "Is it that simple?"

The high priest replied, "The Wheel of Reincarnation law is extremely difficult to master, even more so than the Space Law. To control its power, one must be extremely cautious, lest they suffer unforeseen consequences."

Han Li asked, "I didn't know that the Wheel of Reincarnation law was so powerful. Are you saying that you've mastered it?"

The high priest chuckled, "I've only learned a fraction of its power through my study of the Tian Yuan prophecy technique. While I can use it to predict the future, I haven't truly mastered the law."

Han Li's eyes widened, "So, you're saying that you'll use your knowledge of the Wheel of Reincarnation law to help her awaken her innate power?"

The high priest nodded, "That's correct. If we can—"

Just then, the woman's body relaxed, and her eyebrows unfurrowed. A faint glow appeared on her forehead, and wispy strands of white light emerged, like silk threads floating in the air.

Han Li's expression changed, "What's happening? Her soul is escaping!"

The high priest shook his head, "It's not surprising. When her innate power is lost, her soul becomes like a floating leaf, unable to remain within her body. The 108 soul-sealing needles were used to lock her soul in place, but now that they're gone, her soul is beginning to escape."

Han Li's eyes widened, and he quickly activated his spiritual technique, pointing to his own forehead and drawing a line of spiritual energy that shot out and merged with the woman's forehead. The wispy strands of white light disappeared, and the woman's soul was once again contained within her body.

Han Li turned to the high priest, "Please, you must save her now."

The high priest nodded, "I'll begin the treatment. Please, Brother Han, protect me during this time." The High Priest reassured, "Rest assured, I will not be disturbed while I administer the treatment."

The High Priest did not say another word, and instead walked to the other side of the white jade bed, standing behind the wailing spirit's skull. He clasped his hands together in front of him, as if praying to the heavens, and then opened his hands, waving them forward as if scattering money.

A burst of blood flowers shot out from his palms, transforming into five blood-red plum blossoms that fell onto the wailing spirit's forehead. The center of his palms also split open, revealing twisted and distorted patterns like a turtle shell.

At the same time, a blurry red glow appeared behind him, and his robes fluttered in the wind, even though there was no wind. A familiar yet unfamiliar aura of the law emanated from him.

Han Li suddenly caught a glimpse of the High Priest's exposed skin under his robes, and a wave of nausea washed over him.

Underneath the High Priest's handsome face, his skin was covered in large, festering wounds, most of which were oozing pus and had turned a deep purple. The wounds were mixed with yellowish-brown mucus, making them look particularly disgusting.

These scars were clearly old injuries, some of which had already healed and left behind large, tumor-like scars. Others had only formed a ring of scabs around the wound, while some still had pus oozing out.

The High Priest's body was so swollen and fat because of these numerous tumors and growths. Han Li couldn't help but feel a sense of pity when he looked at the High Priest's handsome face.

Earlier, because of the strong medicinal scent in the air, Han Li had not noticed anything out of the ordinary. However, now that he caught a whiff of the High Priest's body odor, he was struck by its pungency.

"Brother Han, if you find it difficult to endure, you can go outside and keep watch. The treatment will take at least an hour," the High Priest's voice suddenly echoed in Han Li's mind.

"No need," Han Li replied curtly, without saying another word.

The High Priest did not respond.

However, after a few dozen breaths, Han Li frowned and spoke up again, "It seems I must go outside after all..."

"Brother Han, please be at ease. Just make sure no one disturbs us," the High Priest instructed.

"Thank you," Han Li said, bowing and making a gesture of respect before flashing out of the hall.

In the distance, a few streaks of light pierced the dark night sky, landing several dozen feet away from Han Li.

The leader of the group was a man with snow-white hair that was neatly combed and tied up with a pearl crown. His eyes were a deep purple, and his face was handsome, with a strong resemblance to Shi Chongyun. Han Li confirmed that it was his third brother, Shi Po Kong.

Behind him were two demon men. One was a giant of a man, with a body like an iron tower and a metal mask that covered half his face, leaving only his nose and mouth exposed. His face was twisted in a fierce expression.

The other was a slender man dressed in a blue robe, with white hair and a gentle smile. He looked like a ordinary teacher from the mortal realm, with his hands clasped behind his back.

Han Li's spiritual sense suddenly expanded, enveloping the surrounding area. He discovered that, apart from the palace guards, there were only three people present.

The iron tower man's aura was shocking, but he was the weakest of the three, with a cultivation level of only mid-stage Taishi. Shi Po Kong, on the other hand, was also a mid-stage Taishi, but his aura was more stable and long-lasting. The gentle old man, who looked like a teacher, was the strongest of the three, with a cultivation level of late-stage Taishi.

"Ah, Brother Li, it's been a while," Shi Po Kong said with a smile, his hands clasped together in a gesture of respect.

"Thank you for your concern, Brother Shi," Han Li replied with a smile. "I didn't die in the Jiling Caverns, thanks to your care."

"Since you've returned to the Holy Land, my thirteenth brother should also be back, right? Where is he now?" Shi Po Kong asked, his smile growing wider.

"Shi Chongyun has always considered you his closest friend and never had any intention of competing with you," Han Li replied, his expression unchanged. "Don't you think it's unnecessary to do all this?"

"Brother Li, you're a clever person, surely you know that 'not competing' is actually the biggest competition of all," Shi Po Kong said, his expression turning slightly somber before returning to normal. "Besides, it's not something he can decide, nor is it something I can decide."

"Your brothers' competition or lack thereof has no bearing on me," Han Li said, his expression indifferent. "I don't want to get involved, so as long as you don't disturb me, we can each go our separate ways."

"I won't stop you, but can you tell me what happened in the Jiling Caverns?" Shi Po Kong asked, his brow furrowing. "Why did all the pawns I placed inside fall silent?"

Han Li's expression remained calm, and he replied, "I won't tell you."

Han Li said with a hint of mockery, "Since the Third Prince is so eager to know, why not enter the accumulation of scales' empty boundary to investigate? But don't blame me for not warning you, the accumulation of scales' empty boundary is not as safe as the demonic realm. If you're not careful, you might die inside, just like the Eldest Prince."

Shi Po Kong's brow furrowed, and he said in a low voice, "Stone Slashing Wind has indeed died, what a pity."

The two people beside him changed their expressions upon hearing his words.

Han Li stood alone, looking at Shi Po Kong, no longer speaking.

Shi Po Kong's eyes sank, and he said, "Li Dao, actually, you and I don't have any deep grudges or hatred. I have always looked at you with favor, and although the current situation in the sacred domain is unclear, I believe Li Dao is a clever person and can see who has the upper hand between me and the Thirteenth Prince."

Han Li raised an eyebrow and asked, "What do you plan to do with the demonic realm? I don't care about your family's affairs. As long as you don't interfere with the high priest's rescue of the wailing souls, I can let bygones be bygones regarding the matter of the violent empty boundary symbol. Once this is over, I will leave the demonic realm and won't bother you with my presence again. What do you think, Third Prince?"

Shi Po Kong asked, "Li Dao, don't say I'm making things difficult for you. You don't have to tell me everything that happened in the accumulation of scales' empty boundary. Just give me a straight answer about the Thirteenth Prince's situation. Is he dead or alive, and has he returned to the sacred domain?"

Han Li's face suddenly turned cold, and he said, "I've already said it clearly, don't be so greedy and ignorant of the consequences."

As soon as he finished speaking, Han Li's body suddenly became blurry, and he disappeared from his original location.

The next moment, his figure reappeared in front of the left side of the main hall's entrance.

He lightly lifted his foot and stomped on the ground.

A loud crash echoed, and the black stone pavement beneath his feet suddenly erupted in a violent surge of energy, sending rolling smoke and dust into the air. The black stone slabs on the ground cracked and shattered, layer by layer, as if they were being lifted up by an invisible force.

A disheveled figure emerged from the smoke and dust, covered in blood, and fled towards the distance.

Han Li's previous kick had been restrained, as he had feared damaging the main hall behind him. If he had used even half of his strength, the person would not have been able to escape and would have been crushed like the shattered stone slabs.

The figure was small and had black scales covering its body, with sharp claws on its hands. It was clear that it was an expert in earth escape and concealment techniques. After fleeing several hundred feet, it tried to burrow into the ground again.

However, in the blink of an eye, a figure appeared in front of it, lifting its foot to block the figure's sharp claws and holding it in mid-air.

The figure was then caught by a large hand that grasped its throat, rendering it immobile.

Han Li held the figure by the neck and returned to Shi Po Kong's side, saying with a cold smile, "Your earth escape technique is impressive, but you almost managed to sneak into the main hall."

The figure trembled in Han Li's grasp, unable to move.

Shi Po Kong glanced at Han Li, his eyes sinking.

The iron tower-like magic clan member roared, "You dare to harm our Yuan Xi? Release him!"

The old man with a scholarly appearance frowned, his eyes flashing with anger.

Han Li raised an eyebrow and asked, "Release him?"

Without waiting for a response, he twisted his wrist, and the sound of bones cracking echoed as he broke the figure's neck.

He then casually tossed the figure, Yuan Xi, at the iron tower-like magic clan member's feet.

The iron tower-like magic clan member's eyes widened in rage, and he shouted, "You're seeking death!"

A loud roar echoed, and the magic clan member's body began to glow with dark energy, his magic surging. His body expanded, and his armor transformed into a massive magic armor giant.

The magic armor giant raised its hand, and a massive black eight-sided hammer appeared in its palm, surrounded by dark energy.

The giant's body began to glow with red light, and its surroundings were filled with strange ripples, as if the air itself was being distorted.

Han Li's legs felt heavy, as if they were being weighed down by lead, and he was unable to move.

The magic armor giant took a step forward, causing the ground to shudder, and the black stone pavement beneath its feet cracked and shattered.

The giant's hand swung down, and the massive hammer descended towards Han Li, its symbol flashing with energy.

Han Li's head was surrounded by a vortex of energy, as if the air itself was being compressed, and the space around him was being sealed off.

The magic armor giant's eyes flashed with a fierce light, and it thought it had already won.

However, just as it was about to deliver the final blow, its eyes widened in shock as it saw Han Li calmly take a step forward, as if he were strolling through a garden. Just then, his body slightly bent, his clothes fluttering without wind, and his body seemed to have a series of white light points lit up underneath his clothes.

"That is..." the Demon Armor Giant's mind was puzzled, but his hand movements didn't stop.

"Not good, retreat quickly!" At this time, the emaciated old man's expression suddenly changed, and he loudly shouted.

However, it was already too late.

Only to see Han Li's bent body suddenly straighten up, the Tianxia Town Prison's power surged, and his arms made a loud "popping" sound, the star power in his acupoints bursting out, gathering into a giant white fist shadow outside his arm, and fiercely smashing upwards.

"Boom!" a loud explosion sounded.

The Demon Armor Giant's eight-sided giant hammer, wrapped in demonic energy, was struck, and from the point of impact, it broke apart, the massive hammerhead flying backwards, like a meteor, leaving a trail of light in the night sky, unknown where it landed.

The giant hammer's handle still had a powerful force rotating upwards, directly wrapping around the Demon Armor Giant's arm, like a rope, climbing up to his shoulder and head.

"Boom, boom, boom..."

A series of explosions continued to sound, the Demon Armor Giant's arm armor, along with his flesh and blood, were shattered into pieces by the powerful force, even the exposed white bones were twisted and distorted, almost like a twisted rope.

At this time, the old man in the blue robe suddenly flashed, appearing at the Demon Armor Giant's shoulder, and heavily slapped his shoulder.

Only to see his palm gathering a green light, seemingly without much power, but the force contained within was quite astonishing.

The Demon Armor Giant's shoulder was like a thunderclap, the green light suddenly bursting out from his shoulder, colliding with Han Li's energy, and exploding, completely shattering the Demon Armor Giant's arm.

However, it was precisely this intense collision between the two forces that completely countered Han Li's energy, otherwise, if the power had continued to rise, it would have been the Demon Armor Giant's entire arm that was broken.

"Thank you, Old Qiu..." the Demon Armor Giant's demonic energy retracted, his figure quickly returning to normal, and he opened his mouth to respectfully say.

His expression was somewhat mournful, but no matter how painful his shoulder wound was, he didn't make a single sound.

"This person's fist power has almost been completely neutralized by me, but there's still some residual power at the wound, don't try to regenerate flesh and blood before this power completely disappears, or there will be endless consequences." The old man stood in front of him, warning.

Han Li saw this, and withdrew his hand, standing with his hands behind his back, not continuing to pursue.

"Brother Lei, you've injured two people, and it's not putting our Night City in your eyes, is it?" Shi Po Kong walked forward, coldly smiling, and said.

"I left them two lives, the Third Prince should be grateful." Han Li smiled.

"It seems Brother Lei has made great gains in the Accumulated Scales Realm, and now has the confidence to challenge our entire Sacred Clan?" Shi Po Kong's expression became increasingly serious, and he slowly said.

"The Third Prince doesn't need to use the Demon Clan to intimidate me, I, Lei, have no intention of being enemies with the Demon Clan, but if the Third Prince insists on forcing me, I don't mind causing a big commotion in Night City. I know that as the capital city, Night City naturally has powerful seniors sitting in, like the Old Qiu in front of me, who is not ordinary." Han Li said, glancing at the old man.

The latter's eyes were like stars, his gaze falling on Han Li, becoming even brighter, and his aura also rose to its peak, his entire body's aura changing, no longer like the harmless appearance from before.

"But what about that? If I, Lei, have made up my mind to die together with the enemy, even if I can't destroy half of Night City, I can still destroy half of the Demon Palace. At that time, the Third Prince, as the ruler, will certainly be blamed. Moreover, during the time the Eldest Prince was in power, it was a time of great peace and prosperity, but now, the Third Prince has destroyed the palace, who is better or worse, it's clear. Like this, haha... I don't need to say more, do I?" Han Li indifferently smiled, and continued.

Shi Po Kong heard this, his expression unchanged, but his heart was deeply contemplative.

Regarding Han Li's words, he had already thought of it, and even understood the consequences, that his father would be enraged, and his position as ruler would be revoked, and Shi Jingyan would certainly take advantage of the situation.

Like this, he would have worked hard to get rid of Shi Zhanfeng, only to do it for someone else.

He was hesitant because he still had one thing he couldn't confirm, that was whether Han Li really had the ability to destroy half of the Demon Palace.

"This person's Xuan repair power has already surpassed mine, wanting to defeat him might not be difficult, but wanting to kill him is extremely hard, what he said about destroying half of the Sacred Palace is not empty words..." At this time, his mind suddenly heard Old Qiu's voice.

Shi Po Kong was silent for a moment, then suddenly smiled, and said:

"Originally, I wanted to recruit Brother Lei to my side, to create a glorious foundation together, but now it seems I was one-sided. Since Brother Lei insists, I won't force it anymore, but I still hope Brother Lei will keep his promise, and leave the Sacred Domain immediately."

"This is natural, but I'll need to use the transmission array in the aristocratic families to leave." Han Li smiled.

"Tomorrow morning, Brother Lei can come to the Sacred Palace, and I'll send you away." Shi Po Kong naturally wanted to send Han Li away as soon as possible, and agreed.

"Then I'll trouble the Third Prince... since there's nothing more to do here, everyone can leave." Han Li smiled, and actually gave the order to leave, like a host.

Shi Po Kong's expression stiffened, and he gritted his teeth, leading the others to leave.

Han Li watched as Shi Po Kong and the others departed, his spiritual sense carefully scanning the surroundings to ensure there were no abnormalities before turning back to the great hall.

Inside the hall, the jade bed in the water pool was where Qi Hun was lying on her side, her already petite body curled up into a ball, her eyebrows tightly furrowed, and her face filled with pain.

Han Li's heart stirred, and he immediately focused his spiritual sense on her, examining her body.

A moment later, his expression relaxed, and he let out a silent sigh of relief.

Although Qi Hun was still trapped in a deep sleep, her body had undergone a significant transformation.

Especially in her dantian, the flickering and unstable source energy was like a faint light in a dark room, the flame weak but warm.

A splashing sound came from behind the stone bed, and Han Li turned to see the Grand Priest emerging from the water, his body covered in wisps of gray smoke, and a smell of charred flesh emanating from him.

When he saw Han Li's face, his expression changed, and he couldn't help but ask, "Your face..."

The Grand Priest smiled wryly, touching his cheek, and said, "Using the power of the cycle of reincarnation to forcibly probe the heavens, what can I expect but to pay a price?"

His neck and face were covered in burn-like scars, filled with pus that flowed like molten lava, emitting a foul and scorching aura.

"What about the scars on your body?" Han Li asked, his brow furrowed.

"Each time I probe the heavens, these scars appear, like a heavenly punishment. No matter what spiritual pills or elixirs I use, they're useless. At first, they were just thick scabs, but later they formed into tumors. Over time, I've become like this, neither human nor ghost."

The Grand Priest smiled wryly, his voice hoarse, and said, "I've been punished by the heavens, and my body has become like this."

Han Li understood, and he realized that the Grand Priest's reluctance to help Qi Hun was not only due to the Crown Prince's influence but also because of his own circumstances.

It could be said that when this heavenly punishment reached a certain level, even with high cultivation, one couldn't escape the fate of falling. From the current situation, the Grand Priest was already close to this critical point.

"This is a debt I owe the Grand Priest," Han Li said after a moment of contemplation. "If there's anything I can do, please don't hesitate to ask."

The Grand Priest walked out of the water pool, his voice low, and said, "For now, there's nothing I need. But if there's an opportunity in the future, I'll need your help, Brother Han."

Han Li's brow furrowed, and he asked, "What kind of help?"

"The heavens' secrets cannot be revealed," the Grand Priest said, shaking his head.

Han Li's eyes narrowed, and he was about to ask again when Qi Hun suddenly groaned, as if she was about to wake up.

"Qi Hun..." Han Li called out softly.

However, Qi Hun only shuddered again and didn't truly wake up.

The Grand Priest explained, "Her source energy was lost for too long, and her spiritual energy was severely depleted. If not for your help in stabilizing her soul, she would have already dissipated. Don't worry, she just needs some time to recover, and she'll wake up on her own."

Han Li's concerns were alleviated, and he thought of something else, asking, "How will you explain this to the Third Prince?"

The Grand Priest smiled, glancing at the two men still lying unconscious at the entrance, and said, "I'll just say I was coerced by you, Brother Han. If you're still worried, you can always make it look like I was forced to help you."

Han Li chuckled and continued, "The Third Prince might not be so easily fooled..."

The Grand Priest's voice was hoarse, and he said, "Even if he's not, I'm the Grand Priest of the Holy Tribe. He won't dare to be too excessive. Besides, he didn't gain anything from his visit, so what right does he have to blame me?"

Han Li nodded in agreement.

Later, he took Qi Hun back to the Flower Branch Cave Heaven and stayed by her side.

Until the second day, Qi Hun still didn't wake up, but her aura had improved, and Han Li felt slightly better. He bid farewell to the Grand Priest and left the great hall, heading towards the Demon Palace.

However, he had only just left when he saw Shi Po Kong waiting for him in the square with over a dozen people.

Han Li's gaze swept over them, and he noticed that besides the old man from the previous night, there were three Taiyi late-stage cultivators, and seven or eight Taiyi mid-stage and early-stage cultivators.

The Third Prince was making a big show of things, but Han Li's expression remained calm, and he smiled, saying, "Is the Third Prince trying to intimidate me?"

Shi Po Kong laughed, "Brother Li, you're a guest of our Holy Tribe, and now that you're leaving, we must see you off with courtesy."

Han Li smiled, and his figure flashed, passing the group and standing in front of them.

Shi Po Kong's eyes narrowed, and he snapped his fan shut, following Han Li, "Brother Li, I must ask, do you think it's too late for me to regret not befriending you earlier?"

Han Li smiled, "I'm not sure if you're referring to when I first arrived in Night City or when I entered the Accumulated Scales Realm."

Shi Po Kong walked alongside Han Li, asking, "Am I too late to make amends?" "What's the difference?" Shi Po Kong asked.

"Actually, there's no difference, as long as you gave me the Void Boundary Token before, it wouldn't be too late. Unfortunately... you, Third Prince, don't have the Time Reversal Technique, so there's no need to regret." Han Li shook his head.

"That's really too unfortunate..." Shi Po Kong sighed, saying.

Han Li heard this, his face revealed a hesitant expression, and he was rarely moved, sighing: "Between you and Shi Chuan Kong, why is it like this?"

Shi Po Kong naturally knew what Han Li was referring to, but unfortunately, there were some secrets that couldn't be shared with outsiders, so he just sighed again and didn't say anything, his face showing a hint of desolation.

Han Li saw this and didn't say anything more, just continuing on his way.

The group flew through the air until they reached a square in the south garden of the Demon Palace, where they landed.

Han Li's gaze swept across the area, and he saw a strange, conical building in the distance that resembled a sharp tower. The tower's surface was covered in circular patterns that connected to each other, forming a complex network of symbols that extended all the way to the ground.

The tower was only a hundred or so meters tall, but its base took up a third of its height, and its exterior was embedded with a ring of transparent, crystal-like stones that refracted the sunlight, casting a kaleidoscope of colors that made it hard to look directly at.

"Is this the legendary Void Tower?" Han Li asked, his brow furrowed.

"Ordinary transmission arrays can't directly return to the Immortal Realm, so we have to use this Void Tower to tear through the void and return." Shi Po Kong nodded.

"Can this tower return me to the Northern Cold Immortal Domain?" Han Li asked, his brow raised.

"Cross-domain transmission is extremely difficult, and the resources required are enormous. Even if we tear through the void, we can only reach the nearest location in the adjacent domain." Shi Po Kong smiled.

"Where is that?" Han Li asked.

"The Golden Source Immortal Domain." Shi Po Kong looked at him.

"Where is the Golden Source Immortal Domain?" Han Li asked, his brow furrowed.

Although Han Li had never been to this domain, he wasn't unfamiliar with it. After all, the Nine Yuan Observatory and the Hundred Forge Mountain were both located within it, and Jintong was probably still there.

"There are a few transmission arrays in the Golden Source Immortal Domain, such as the Nine Yuan Observatory and the Shouyang Mountain, but they require a sect's token to activate. If you don't have one, you can only rely on luck, so you might be randomly transmitted to any location in the Golden Source Immortal Domain." Shi Po Kong smiled.

"Let's go." Han Li thought for a moment before speaking decisively.

He took the lead, walking into the Void Tower.

Shi Po Kong followed him, his brow furrowed in concern.

As they entered the tower, Han Li saw that the floor was covered in symbol patterns, and several snow-white stone pillars stood in the center, also adorned with strange patterns.

The walls of the tower were embedded with transparent, crystal-like stones that reflected the light, casting a series of overlapping shadows.

In the center of the room, a ten-meter-high platform stood, topped with a lifelike carving of a Luozhen Spirit. The platform was surrounded by a complex network of symbols that seemed to be flowing with energy.

"It's been a while, I hope we won't meet again in this sacred domain." Shi Po Kong suddenly spoke up.

"I, Li, always keep my word." Han Li smiled ambiguously.

"Good, please enter the array." Shi Po Kong nodded.

Han Li examined the array again, noticing that it was identical to the one the High Priest had described to him the night before. He nodded and stepped forward.

"Li, rest assured, this Void Tower is extremely valuable, and I wouldn't dare tamper with it. If it's damaged, it would be like destroying half of the Sacred Tribe's imperial city." Shi Po Kong smiled.

Han Li didn't say anything, just looking at Shi Po Kong before nodding.

The latter didn't say anything more, just waving his hand.

The several Demon Tribe elders behind him immediately dispersed, sitting down at the four corners of the array and closing their eyes to begin activating the Void Tower.

As a humming noise filled the air, the floor of the tower began to vibrate, and the platform in the center lit up with a silver glow, enveloping Han Li.

The symbol patterns on the floor began to shine brightly, and the crystal-like stones on the walls refracted the light, casting a dazzling array of colors that made it hard to look directly at.

Han Li stood at the center of the array, surrounded by the intense energy, as the space around him began to distort and converge.

Just as the array was about to activate, Han Li heard Shi Po Kong's voice:

"Until we meet again, Han Li."

With the sound of "later will have no chance" accompanying, a white light flew out, under the protection of a spatial law, it pierced through the big array, and hit his body.

Han Li was shocked, only had time to lower his head to take a glance, and found that it was a marked jade ring, but he didn't have time to react, a strong tearing sensation surged in from all directions.

He felt the air around him tighten, and then a twisting force surged towards him from all directions, making him feel like his body was about to be torn into pieces, his powerful divine sense was also somewhat scattered, and he couldn't concentrate at all.

There was a loud explosion.

The entire Void Tower shook violently, a silver light shot out from the top of the tower, and violently rubbed against the void clouds, creating a dazzling display of colorful light.

At the same time, the silver light on the surface of the rhombus-shaped crystal stones on the outer wall of the tower suddenly exploded, turning into a wave of invisible energy that swept in all directions.

The silver light shot out for a few breaths, and then suddenly dimmed, and the sound stopped.

The entire Void Tower was filled with smoke and dust, the rhombus-shaped crystal stones on the outer wall were mostly destroyed, and the remaining ones were dull and dim, it was clear that the energy they contained was almost exhausted.

A moment later, Shi Po Kong and his group walked out of the tower.

His face was still not looking good, his eyebrows were slightly furrowed, as if he was thinking about something, but his eyes had a few more relaxed expressions than before.

...

In the immortal realm, a place surrounded by green mountains, a ancient Taoist temple was built.

The temple's buildings were built according to the terrain, stretching for dozens of miles.

In a slightly lower valley, there was a white stone formation, surrounded by stone pillars, and dense talismans were carved everywhere.

At this moment, nearly a hundred cultivators, dressed in two different uniforms, were gathered around the formation, their faces serious and solemn.

Among them, there were two leaders, one was a middle-aged man wearing a white robe, his body was not too tall, but his aura was very powerful, and he looked like a person who was used to holding power.

The other was an old man with a thin and long body, his cheeks were sunken, and his beard was sparse, making him look somewhat withered.

"Ta Ji, brother, where did you get this information from, is the person really going to come here today?" the old man suddenly asked, breaking the silence.

"Jin Chuan, brother, yesterday night I suddenly received a cross-border message, saying that the killer of Yu Er would appear on the transmission platform of the Returning Dragon Temple today. Time was too tight, I didn't have time to verify the authenticity, and I hurriedly brought some of my subordinates who could be mobilized, and came here. I thought you were not far away, so I bothered you to come and help." Ta Ji said.

"No problem. But if I'm not mistaken, the person who killed Yu Er back then was just a True Immortal, a small person who could be crushed with just one finger, why are you making such a big fuss?" Jin Chuan asked in doubt.

"This matter is somewhat strange, the person who sent the message said that the person's strength is not bad, and I should treat him as a Tai Yi realm cultivator..." Ta Ji hesitated for a moment before saying.

"This is impossible! How many years has it been since Yu Er was killed? Even if someone is a genius, it's impossible to cross from the True Immortal realm to the Tai Yi realm in such a short time. It's definitely not possible. If I were to say, it's probably someone setting a trap for you, you've offended many people in your position over the years." Jin Chuan shook his head and said.

"Jin Chuan, brother, you also know how much thought I've put into this matter, even if there's only a slight chance, I don't want to miss it. Besides, even if someone is setting a trap for me, with you here to help, what do I have to fear?" Ta Ji sighed and said seriously.

"Don't mention having me help, I think that even if I didn't come, with your current lineup, as long as it's not a Da Luo realm expert, no one would be able to take advantage of you." Jin Chuan swept his eyes around the white stone formation and smiled.

"I only have five Golden Immortal peak cultivators from the Immortal Palace, and over 40 Golden Immortal mid-to-late stage cultivators, if it weren't for your people coming to supplement, and setting up this complete Yin Yang array, I'm afraid the power wouldn't be able to reach its best." Ta Ji smiled bitterly and said.

"Earlier, I heard you say that this person cultivates the power of time laws, it's really quite reckless." Jin Chuan suddenly thought of something and said.

"Probably because he's from a humble background, without a large sect's background, he doesn't know the secrets of law cultivation, and blindly walked onto this path of no return. But he was able to kill Yu Er with his True Immortal cultivation, and then kill Gong Shu Jiu, it's clear that he has already achieved some level of proficiency in his cultivation of time laws." Ta Ji said thoughtfully.

"Haha... even if he has achieved some level of proficiency in time laws, as long as he enters this Yin Yang array, he won't be able to use his power, and will be at our mercy. Don't worry, today he won't come, but if he does, we'll let him know that he's flown into a trap, and avenge Yu Er's blood debt!" Jin Chuan laughed.

Ta Ji's expression relaxed a bit, and he was about to speak when his expression suddenly changed.

"He's here..." Jin Chuan's expression moved, and he smiled.

As soon as he finished speaking, the void above suddenly violently churned, and the clouds gathered above the valley, blocking out half of the sky.

The valley suddenly darkened, and a loud whistling sound rose, and the crowd looked up at the sky.

The clouds above churned violently, and the air was filled with an intense energy, as if something was about to descend from the sky. "Set up the formation." Tao Ji's expression turned solemn, and he gave a low order.

The nine leading Golden Immortal peak cultivators immediately responded, each leading nine Golden Immortal mid-to-late stage cultivators to move around the transmission platform, searching for their own positions to guard the formation's nodes. They wove a complex large formation together.

The ninety people simultaneously used their hands to seal their techniques, recited incantations, and the ground and the stone pillars around them emitted symbol lights. A layer of black and white glow slowly enveloped the surroundings, like a large mouth waiting to swallow its prey.

A loud rumbling sound shook the air!

Above the transmission platform, a burst of electricity exploded from the gathering dark clouds, and a strong spatial fluctuation spread out. A silver light column tore through the void, emitting a dazzling seven-colored light, and descended straight down.

The transmission platform shook violently as the silver light landed, and a blue figure appeared - it was Han Li.

As the silver light dissipated, a humming sound came from above, and the black and white glow closed in instantly, like a large pot being overturned. The entire transmission platform was enveloped.

The spatial tearing force accompanying the inter-domain transmission was extremely terrifying. Only a Taiyi cultivator would dare to attempt it. If a Golden Immortal cultivator forced it, they would likely suffer severe injuries or even death.

Han Li's physical body was exceptionally strong, so he wouldn't suffer from tearing damage. However, he still felt his head spinning, his body aching, and it was difficult to stand up immediately.

The refining technique in his mind had automatically activated, and after a moment, he recovered his calm.

As he stood up straight, a thumb-sized jade ring fell from his side with a crisp sound.

Han Li shook his head, picked up the jade ring, and looked around. Seeing that half of the people setting up the formation were wearing clothes with the mark of the Heavenly Palace, he couldn't help but sigh:

"Stone Breaker, it seems you've set me up again..."

On the other side, Jing Chuan glanced at Han Li and thought he looked ordinary. He asked:

"Is it him?"

Tao Ji's eyes locked onto Han Li, and he nodded affirmatively.

Although he had never seen Han Li before, he felt a strange sense of recognition when he saw him. He instinctively knew that this person was the one who had killed his child.

"Should I call you Lei Feiyu or Han Li?" Tao Ji asked coldly.

Han Li had already guessed that something might go wrong when he heard Stone Breaker's parting words, but he hadn't expected it to be like this.

"Have we met before?" Han Li asked, furrowing his brow.

"You haven't seen me, but you've seen Yu'er, and you killed him." Tao Ji said coldly.

Han Li examined the middle-aged man carefully and found that his eyes and eyebrows seemed familiar. After a moment, he realized:

"You're Tao Yu's father, the Tao Long that Gong Shujiu mentioned?"

Tao Ji nodded, his expression unchanging.

"You've found the right person, so today is the day you pay your debt in blood. Take action."

The transmission platform shook violently, and the air seemed to be sucked dry. Han Li's brow furrowed as he discovered that the heavenly spiritual energy in the surrounding air had vanished in an instant, making it seem like he had returned to the Accumulated Scale Realm.

He thought about it and couldn't help but feel a mix of emotions, his face showing a hint of helplessness.

"Activate the Yin-Yang Extreme Stone." Tao Ji ordered, his brow slightly furrowed.

As soon as he spoke, the Golden Immortal cultivators changed their techniques, and their hands pushed forward simultaneously.

The symbol lights on the formation's edges suddenly appeared, and the black and white glow seemed to be attracted to them, separating into two distinct parts. The white light moved to the left, and the black light moved to the right, condensing onto the symbol lights and transforming into two massive black and white millstones. They rotated fiercely, pressing towards the center.

Han Li stood at the center, feeling the crushing force from the millstones even before they touched him. The air around him seemed to compress, forming two invisible walls of air that locked him in place, making it impossible for him to move.

Han Li only felt the wind howling in his ears, with waves of tearing force opening from both sides, bringing a gust of wind that made his face ache.

He was squeezed and felt a bit stifled, and subconsciously stretched out his arms, using his elbows to push open the grinding wheel, but he only managed to push back the air a little, and the black and white grinding wheel's physical body continued to squeeze in from both sides.

Tao Ji saw Han Li unable to move for a moment, and his heart couldn't help but relax, with a smile spreading across his face.

Jin Chuan, on the other hand, was unimpressed, and with a smirk, he seemed to be looking down on his old friend for making such a big fuss over a small person.

"Once you enter this yin-yang array, you're on the path of yin-yang, put in some effort, and grind this guy's physical body into powder, leaving only his divine soul. I want to use it to light up a heavenly lamp, to comfort my son's spirit for ten thousand years." Tao Ji shouted loudly.

"Yes!" Behind him, the ninety golden immortal cultivators responded in unison, their voices shaking the air.

Being able to be chosen by Tao Zhanglao to participate in this array, and to receive a reward of ten blocks of immortal stone, was a great opportunity for their future cultivation, and they didn't want to miss it.

They saw that Han Li was not putting up much of a fight, and they thought it was just right, a good opportunity to get a reward without much effort.

If they could get Tao Zhanglao's recognition, their future prospects would be even brighter.

They changed their magic seals, and their immortal energy poured out, stimulating the array to its full power.

The black and white grinding wheel's symbols glowed brightly, and the pressure between them grew stronger, finally pushing Han Li's elbows back, and making a grinding sound that made their teeth ache.

Han Li was in the array, his expression unchanged, and he didn't seem to be in a hurry to counterattack.

He was thinking of using this opportunity to test his physical body's strength, after cultivating in the Accumulated Scales Realm for so long, and to see how strong he had become.

He was adapting to the grinding wheel's pressure, and didn't use much force to resist.

Of course, he still showed a painful expression, and even pretended to be exhausted, and his body was covered in sweat.

In the end, he withdrew his arms, and let the black and white grinding wheel squeeze his body.

"Boom boom boom"

The black and white grinding wheel shook violently, and it seemed like it was about to close in on Han Li.

"Looks like that person was lying, this guy can't hold on for a moment, he's going to turn into powder, Tao Zhanglao should prepare to capture his divine soul, don't let it disperse." Jin Chuan glanced at the array, and said with a smile.

"I didn't expect Yu'er to lose to this kind of person, he must have underestimated his opponent, and was caught off guard, it's all because I wasn't strict enough with him, sigh..." Tao Ji shook his head, and sighed.

"It's not Yu'er's fault, this person was unable to move because of our pre-arranged array, and his immortal energy couldn't be mobilized, and his law's power couldn't be used, so he was at a disadvantage from the start." Jin Chuan waved his hand, and said.

"No matter what, today I can finally avenge Yu'er." Tao Ji nodded, and said with a sense of relief.

Just as they finished speaking, a sudden change occurred!

The black and white grinding wheel suddenly made a strange noise, and when they looked closely, they were shocked to see that the two grinding wheels, which had almost closed in on Han Li, had reopened a gap.

"Is this all you've got? You can't even let me test my physical body's strength?" Han Li's voice came from within, with a mocking tone.

Tao Ji and Jin Chuan's expressions changed, and Tao Ji shouted: "Use all your strength to crush him!"

The other golden immortal cultivators, who had just relaxed, immediately poured all their immortal energy into the array.

The black and white grinding wheel's symbols glowed even brighter, and the pressure between them grew even stronger, but it still couldn't close in on Han Li, and was instead pushed back by him.

Han Li's face was calm and composed, and he didn't seem to be using much force.

Tao Ji saw this, and his expression changed, and he raised his hand, and a golden light appeared in front of him, transforming into a golden flying sword.

The golden flying sword had nine flame symbols engraved on it, and it emitted a wave of heat.

"Fast!"

Tao Ji shouted, and pointed at the sword, and the first flame symbol lit up, and a layer of red flame appeared on the sword, which didn't seem to be burning intensely, but rather like a saw-toothed sword light.

Tao Ji glanced at Han Li, and his hand moved again, and the second flame symbol lit up, and a layer of orange flame appeared on the sword, which surrounded the red flame.

The temperature around them began to rise, and the air was distorted by the heat.

Tao Ji's hand moved again, and the third flame symbol lit up, and another layer of flame appeared on the sword.

The sword was surrounded by layer after layer of flame, and the heat grew stronger and stronger. Until the seventh emblem lit up, the flying sword was shrouded in seven layers of flames, each layer burning fiercely, making it look like a seven-colored fire fan.

The entire green mountain valley was filled with scorching heat, and the vegetation on the ground had withered and turned yellow under the intense heat. Even the Golden Immortal controlling the formation couldn't bear it, feeling like their blood was about to boil.

"Tao, this person's physical strength is quite impressive, but it's just the last burst of energy from a bowstring. You're using the Seven Fiery Emblems, isn't that a bit too much?" Jing Chuan said, his expression surprised.

Tao Ji didn't respond, but instead pushed his hands forward.

The flying sword, shrouded in seven-colored flames, suddenly shot out, turning into a colorful rainbow, and instantly entered the formation.

Han Li felt the power of the fire element from the flying sword, but his face showed no fear, and he felt a thrill of excitement in his heart.

"This is more like it, just right for testing the depth." Han Li said, his voice low, and he didn't use any techniques, simply unleashing the power of the stars within him, and stood tall, facing the flying sword.

A loud explosion sounded!

The tip of the seven-colored sword was embedded in Han Li's chest, and a wave of intense heat immediately burst out.

Han Li's clothes were instantly incinerated, revealing his chest, which was not overly muscular, but was like steel, resisting the seven-colored sword, and a brilliant white light burst out.

The dazzling light obscured the formation, enveloping Han Li entirely.

A massive wave of flames, like a peacock's feathers, burst out, exploding in all directions, and the intense heat emanating from it shook the entire formation.

The Golden Immortals outside the formation were affected by the power, their bodies swaying, and their figures trembling, almost as if they were being blown away by the flames.

After a while, the flames on the flying sword finally dissipated, and Han Li's figure reappeared.

He was unscathed, except for the torn clothes on his chest, and not a single burn mark was visible.

"This...how is this possible?" Jing Chuan's expression changed, and he exclaimed in shock.

"This person's physical strength is far beyond imagination, Jing Chuan, don't underestimate him." Tao Ji said, his brow furrowed, and he recalled the flying sword.

"Is that all you've got? Is it my turn now?" Han Li said, smiling, as he looked at the two of them.

As soon as he finished speaking, he began to circulate the Heavenly Executioner's Prison technique, his body's acupoints responding with a loud rumbling sound, and his five fingers turned into claws, stabbing into the black and white grinding disks.

Immediately, his body's muscles began to bulge, and a layer of golden fur grew on his skin, and his body expanded to ten times its original size, transforming into a ten-zhang-tall giant ape.

He grasped the two massive grinding disks with his hands, and with a loud roar, he pulled them, causing the entire formation to shake violently, and the light on it began to tremble wildly, losing control, and being pulled into Han Li's hands.

All the people who had set up the formation were affected by the backlash, their bodies shaking violently, and they spat out blood.

"No, quickly retreat..." Tao Ji shouted, alarmed.

But it was too late, Han Li's actions had already triggered the formation's collapse, and the ripples caused by the massive power had trapped everyone, making it impossible for them to escape.

Han Li swung the massive grinding disks with a loud roar, and they came crashing down on the people who had set up the formation.

The Golden Immortals saw that they couldn't avoid it, and their faces filled with terror, they activated their protective treasures, releasing a burst of light, in a desperate attempt to resist.

Two loud explosions sounded, and the light from the treasures burst out, filling the air with the sound of crashing and the smell of blood.

Ninety Golden Immortals had been reduced to a puddle of flesh, not a single one escaping, not even their Nascent Souls.

"You're seeking death!"

A furious roar echoed through the air, and Jing Chuan's figure shot up into the sky, his hands forming a seal, and a blue light shield appeared, covering the entire mountain valley.

"A fire element technique, a water element technique, you two are quite complementary." Han Li said, his expression changing slightly, as he smiled.

As he spoke, his body rapidly shrunk back to its original size.

Jing Chuan didn't dare to hesitate, his hands forming a seal, and a powerful aura burst out, his clothes fluttering wildly, like a fierce wind.

Jin Chuan suddenly waved his sleeve, and under the scorching sun, countless rain threads suddenly appeared in the air, densely covering the area within a thousand meters of Han Li.

Han Li's eyes narrowed, and he saw that the seemingly weak rain threads contained a faint purple glow.

"It's poisonous..."

He thought to himself, and with a swift motion, he punched out with one hand.

The fist was covered in a layer of white starlight, which repelled the rain threads and sent them flying back a hundred meters, disappearing into the air.

Han Li was about to jump into the air and pursue when he suddenly felt his feet being restrained, and he couldn't move.

He looked down and saw that a layer of blue water had gathered around his feet, swirling around his legs and binding them tightly.

The blue water had a faint jade-like luster, and within it, he could see a series of strange patterns that seemed to be infused with the power of the water element.

Han Li lifted his legs, but they felt incredibly heavy, as if they were rooted to the ground.

"Tao, my water binding technique is connected to the underground water veins. To break free, he would have to contend with hundreds of underground rivers. He won't be able to escape in an instant. You must act quickly and..."

Jin Chuan's voice was cut off, and his face contorted in shock.

A figure suddenly appeared before him, and Han Li's body was surrounded by a surge of blood and flesh power.

His body glowed with a crimson light, and his nine hundred or so acupoints shone brightly as he unleashed the full power of his heavenly suppression technique.

Jin Chuan's eyes widened in horror as Han Li's fist struck the air, creating a shockwave that seemed to shatter the very fabric of reality.

Han Li's fist hit the water screen, but he felt a strange power pulling him back, as if his fist had missed its mark. His strength was unable to penetrate the water screen and reach Jin Chuan's chest.

"Now! Quickly!" Jin Chuan shouted.

As soon as he spoke, Tao's figure appeared behind Han Li, surrounded by a halo of flames. He made a hand seal and shouted:

"Go!"

The golden flying sword shot out, and its nine seals glowed brightly. The sword's power surged, and it seemed to rival that of a fifth-grade immortal treasure.

The sword was about to strike Han Li when a golden light erupted from his body, and a golden wheel appeared, spinning rapidly as it released a beam of golden light that enveloped the surrounding area.

The flying sword's speed slowed as it entered the golden light, and it seemed to be suspended in mid-air.

The sword's flames raged wildly, burning away the golden light, but it couldn't break free from the golden wheel's restraint.

Tao's face was filled with shock and disbelief as he watched the scene unfold.

Jin Chuan, who was closest to the action, was frozen in place, his eyes wide with terror.

"It seems you're not as formidable as I thought. You've truly disappointed me..." Han Li sighed, and his body began to glow with a crimson light.

His body expanded, and he transformed into a three-headed, six-armed figure. His three heads were those of a golden ape, a dragon, and a giant bird, each one a manifestation of his true spirit bloodline.

One of his fists was still trapped by the water screen, but his other hand, which was covered in golden scales, burst forth and pierced the water screen, reaching into Jin Chuan's chest and grasping his heart.

Han Li didn't even look at the heart as he crushed it with his fingers.

Jin Chuan's body began to crumble, and his soul was torn from his body.

At the same time, Han Li's body turned, and his two lower hands grasped the golden flying sword, which was still trying to break free from the golden wheel's restraint.

A surge of intense heat flowed through his body, and Han Li felt his blood boiling, as if it was about to erupt. The sensation was similar to the backlash of his true spirit bloodline.

Han Li sneered, unfazed, and his two hands, which were covered in fine scales, grasped the sword tightly, enduring the intense flames that engulfed them.

With a swift motion, he twisted the sword, and it let out a deafening screech as it struggled to break free from Han Li's grasp. The massive power unleashed by the three true spirit bloodlines - the Mountainous Giant Ape, the True Dragon, and the Kunpeng - under the stimulation of the Heaven's Punishment Seal, was not something that a mere five or six-grade immortal sword could withstand.

As a metallic ringing sound echoed, the flame-wrapped flying sword began to twist and deform, finally letting out a loud explosion and shattering into pieces.

The surrounding flames shot out in all directions, and the intense heat waves rolled and churned, scorching the massive Kunpeng hand that Han Li had transformed into, releasing a pungent smell of charred flesh.

Han Li casually tossed the hand aside, his body flashing with a bloody glow as he returned to his human form, a smile spreading across his face as he gazed out at Tao Ji in the distance.

Tao Ji had already spat out a mouthful of blood and turned to flee at the moment the flying sword shattered, his body erupting with a fiery blaze that left a trail of flames in his wake, like a fire arrow shooting off into the distance.

However, Han Li's Time Domain had already enveloped the surrounding hundred-mile radius, and although Tao Ji was only a hundred or so yards away, he was still bound by the golden light of the True Speech Treasure Wheel, and even if he managed to temporarily break free using some secret technique, his movements were still sluggish.

"It's too late to try and escape now!" Han Li's voice fell, and he immediately retracted the Treasure Wheel into his body, reversing his momentum.

At the same time, he lifted his foot and heavily stomped the ground, his body bursting forth with a sudden explosion of speed, vanishing into the air as a silver electric light enveloped him.

Tao Ji's eyes widened in shock as he realized Han Li had disappeared, his divine sense unable to accurately lock onto Han Li's position, his face pale with fear.

He could no longer afford to hesitate, and with a swift motion, he formed a hand seal and activated his Burning Blood Technique, his speed increasing by a factor of two as he fled in a distant direction.

"Tao Long, why are you leaving so soon? Didn't you just say you wanted to destroy my soul?" Han Li's voice echoed through the air, and a flash of electric light appeared beside Tao Ji.

Tao Ji's eyes were wide with terror, and he didn't dare respond, fleeing for his life.

Han Li, however, seemed to be toying with him, keeping pace with Tao Ji as he spoke, "If it weren't for Tao Yue's deception and attempt on my life when I first arrived in the immortal realm, forcing me to the brink of death, you and your son wouldn't be in this predicament today. You have no one to blame but yourself for not teaching him properly..."

Tao Ji's eyes turned red with rage, the Burning Blood Technique pushed to its limits, but he still couldn't shake Han Li off his tail.

"However, I, Han Li, am a man of my word, and I don't have the same hobby as you do, of refining human souls into lanterns. I simply kept Tao Yue's soul with me for a while, playing with it... if only you had found him back then..."

Tao Ji's anger finally boiled over, and he stopped fleeing, his body erupting with a massive blaze of flames as he confronted Han Li.

The flames enveloped the surrounding area, and the temperature skyrocketed, but Han Li had already retreated to a safe distance, his eyes fixed on the explosion's center.

A deafening boom shook the air as a massive explosion erupted, sending a wave of flames and heat crashing out in all directions.

Han Li, however, simply smiled coldly, his eyes gleaming with a deep purple light.

"Despicable trick!" Han Li's voice echoed through the air, and he charged forward, his body bursting forth with a sudden explosion of speed.

As he approached the center of the explosion, he noticed that the flames contained a faint, weak power, unlike the true power of a self-destructing technique.

Han Li's eyes narrowed, and he spotted hundreds of fist-sized flames, all converging on a single point, merging into a single, massive blaze.

Han Li's lips curled into a smile, and with a swift motion, he pointed forward, unleashing a wave of eighteen cyan-colored flying swords that shot towards the flames, dispelling them with a burst of golden light.

The flames dissipated, and Han Li's eyes landed on a single flying sword, which had a small, green glow emanating from it - a storage ring.

"Wanting to feign death and escape, yet you couldn't even bring yourself to destroy your storage ring... you really don't have the courage to do it properly." Han Li's voice dripped with amusement as he retrieved the storage ring.

With a wave of his hand, he recalled the flying swords, and with a final glance at the area, he turned and flew back to clean up the battlefield in the nearby mountains.

A long time later, a small, flickering flame appeared on the crown of an ancient tree in the forest below, dancing in the wind before disappearing into the distance.

In a dark and mysterious hall within the Golden Origin Immortal Palace, a faint red glow emanated from the intricate blood-red patterns etched into the walls and floor, forming a massive array.

As the array pulsed with an otherworldly energy, a chill ran down the spines of those who dared to approach. At the center of the array stood a black stone pillar, its seven branches adorned with ancient oil lamps that burned with a faint, eerie green flame.

The soft glow of the lamps seemed to amplify the ominous atmosphere, and suddenly, the flames erupted, growing several times larger before detaching from the lamps and floating in mid-air.

The surrounding space was filled with a network of green patterns, connecting the seven orbs of flame to form a seven-star array.

At the center of the array, a dark flash of light appeared, and a residual soul materialized, coalescing into a blurry face – that of Tao Ji.

"Fortunately, I had set up the seven-star lamps as a precaution, or I would have indeed perished," Tao Ji muttered, his eyes flashing with a malevolent glare.

"Han Li, you killed my son and destroyed my cultivation. This vendetta will not be forgotten! I may not be able to kill you, but I will stop at nothing to destroy you through the hands of others. That thing, I no longer want!"

Tao Ji's residual soul twisted into a grotesque grimace as he opened his mouth, inhaling the seven orbs of flame.

The flames rushed into his mouth, and his soul rapidly solidified.

Simultaneously, a loud crack echoed through the hall as the black stone pillar split open, revealing a hidden compartment from which a human-shaped symbol emerged, merging with Tao Ji's soul.

A brilliant black light flashed, and a figure materialized – Tao Ji, his body seemingly crafted from a dark, liquid substance.

He flexed his limbs, nodding in satisfaction, before flying towards the outside.

Half an hour later, Tao Ji arrived at the entrance of a golden palace.

"Tao Elder!"

The palace gates were flanked by two attendants, who exchanged a surprised glance upon seeing Tao Ji's current appearance.

"I have urgent business with the Palace Master. Please, announce my arrival!" Tao Ji exclaimed, his expression grave.

"Of course, Tao Elder. Please wait a moment," the attendants replied, preparing to enter the palace.

However, a stern voice from within the palace interrupted them.

"Let Tao Elder enter. There is no need to announce him."

Tao Ji pushed open the palace doors and hastened inside, traversing a grand hall and a lengthy corridor before arriving at a magnificent garden.

The garden was filled with an array of colorful flowers and trees, their sweet fragrance wafting through the air.

At the garden's center stood a white pavilion, where a white-robed figure stood with his back to Tao Ji, admiring a pale red tree.

"Greetings, Palace Master!" Tao Ji rushed forward, bowing respectfully.

The white-robed figure turned to face him, revealing a middle-aged man with an unremarkable appearance, except for his piercing eyes, which seemed to hold a deep understanding of the world.

"What brings you here, Tao Elder? You have used the Heaven's Shadow Symbol to condense your form, a move that is not to be taken lightly," the Palace Master said, his voice firm but measured.

"I beg to report, Palace Master, that I was not using the Heaven's Shadow Symbol to condense my form, but rather to revive my body, which had been destroyed. Fortunately, I had set up the seven-star lamps as a precaution, allowing me to preserve a residual soul. I had no choice but to use the Heaven's Shadow Symbol to revive my body and seek an audience with you," Tao Ji explained, his voice laced with sorrow.

The Palace Master's expression turned grave. "Who could have destroyed your body? Tell me, Tao Elder."

"It was a man named Han Li, also known as Lei Fei Yu. He is a fugitive on the Heavenly Court's list, and his crimes include cultivating the Soul Refining Technique and conspiring against the Heavenly Court. My son, Tao Yu, was also injured by him," Tao Ji spat, his eyes blazing with hatred.

The Palace Master's eyes narrowed. "Han Li... Lei Fei Yu. I recall his name. He was a True Immortal who had made a name for himself by cultivating the Soul Refining Technique and participating in the assassination of a high-ranking Heavenly Court official. A bounty of 5,000 sacred stones was placed on his head. You and he have a history of conflict, and it is only natural that you would seek to capture him. However, according to our records, he is only a True Immortal, and even if he has made significant progress in his cultivation, he should not have surpassed the Golden Immortal realm. How did you come to be defeated by him?"

Tao Ji's face twisted in a snarl. "According to our records, he has indeed surpassed the Golden Immortal realm, and his cultivation has reached the Tai Yi realm. His physical strength is also formidable, rivaling that of a Tai Yi Xian. I, along with my friend Jing Chuan and nearly a hundred Golden Immortals, set up a Yin-Yang array to capture him, but he easily broke free. Everyone else was killed, except for me."

The Palace Master's expression turned incredulous. "What? He has cultivated both the body and the soul to the Tai Yi realm? This is impossible!"

Tao Ji's eyes flashed with determination. "I swear on my honor as a cultivator that this is true. I have recorded the battle with the Heaven's Soul Pearl, and I implore you to examine it, Palace Master."

Tao Ji produced a small, crystal orb from his mouth, which hovered in the air before the Palace Master.

The Palace Master's eyes gleamed with interest as he reached out to touch the orb.

The orb burst into radiance, revealing the details of the battle between Tao Ji and Han Li. The Palace Master's eyes widened in shock as he realized the truth.

"This person's cultivation has indeed reached the Tai Yi realm, but he has only been on the list for a mere two or three thousand years," the Palace Master muttered, his voice filled with awe. Here is the translated text:

"It seems that the only explanation is that this person hid his cultivation back then and wasn't a true immortal, no wonder my son had already become a Golden Immortal but still fell to his hands." Tao Ji said with anger.

"That's impossible, the Heavenly Court would have thoroughly investigated his background before putting him on the Annihilation List, and his cultivation level would be the most important thing, there's no way they would make a mistake!" The white-clothed man shook his head.

"If the investigation back then was correct, then it's impossible for him to have gone from the True Immortal realm to the Taiyi realm in just a few thousand years, and also cultivate his physical body to the same level. This is impossible! Even if he has the best talent and has a powerful backing, his cultivation couldn't have increased so quickly, unless he has some kind of heaven-defying treasure that can shorten his cultivation time... Ah!" Tao Ji shook his head, his eyes suddenly focusing on something.

"What did you think of, Tao Long?" The white-clothed man was deep in thought, but was interrupted by Tao Ji's sudden exclamation.

"I remember something, but it's related to my son Tao Yu," Tao Ji said.

"What is it?" The white-clothed man asked.

"My son had a feud with Lü Fei Yu in the Northern Cold Immortal Domain, and he had sent back some information about him. I remember some of it was about a time law treasure. Previously, I was too caught up in my grief over my son's death, and didn't investigate further, but could it be related to Lü Fei Yu's sudden increase in cultivation?" Tao Ji said.

"What information?" The white-clothed man's spirit was shaken.

"It's been a long time, and I don't remember it clearly, but I still have the records. Let me send for them, and we can take a look," Tao Ji said quickly, then took out a communication array plate and whispered a few words.

A moment later, a golden-robed young man flew in from outside and bowed to the two of them.

"Greetings, Palace Master, Tao Uncle."

"No need to be polite, did you bring the things I asked for?" Tao Ji said.

"Regarding Tao Yu's records, they're all here," the golden-robed young man said, taking out a stack of jade slips and placing them on the stone table.

The white-clothed man didn't pay attention to the golden-robed young man, instead taking a jade slip and examining it.

"Ah!" The white-clothed man's face showed excitement as he looked at a white jade slip, his eyes flashing with intensity.

"Palace Master, did you find something?" Tao Ji asked.

The white-clothed man glanced at Tao Ji, then handed him the jade slip.

Tao Ji took the jade slip, and his divine sense entered it, finding a record of Tao Yu sending back a message, vaguely mentioning that he was investigating someone who had a crystal treasure that contained time laws.

"Right, it's this, the time law crystal, Palace Master, do you think it's related to Lü Fei Yu's sudden increase in cultivation?" Tao Ji asked quickly.

"Now that we've found the thread, we can contact the Observatory and find the source of the Chaos Crystal!" The white-clothed man said excitedly, immediately striding towards the depths of the garden.

"What, this crystal is the Chaos Crystal?" Tao Ji's eyes widened in surprise, following after him.

"Although we can't be certain, there's a 70-80% chance, according to the Observatory's records, the Chaos Crystal has the effect of accelerating law cultivation, and can also be used to mature spiritual herbs, it's a first-class treasure that can quickly increase cultivation. Lü Fei Yu's cultivation speed is so fast, and he has the time law crystal, it's unlikely that it's just a coincidence, that crystal is likely the Chaos Crystal!" The white-clothed man said quickly.

"I see, it's indeed very likely! Ai, I'm to blame for being too careless in the past, and not investigating this matter thoroughly, we missed the chance to capture him. Luckily, Palace Master, you're so perceptive and noticed the crystal's origin," Tao Ji said, nodding.

The white-clothed man stopped in his tracks, turning to look at Tao Ji, his eyes deep and profound.

"Palace Master?" Tao Ji also stopped, looking puzzled.

"Tao Long, did you really not notice the crystal's existence, or did you intentionally hide it, wanting to keep the treasure for yourself, but Lü Fei Yu's power was too great, and you couldn't get your hands on it, so you revealed this matter?" The white-clothed man's eyes flashed with white light, becoming two white blades that stared intensely at Tao Ji.

A massive aura burst forth from his body, pressing down on Tao Ji.

"Palace Master, I assure you, that treasure is related to the rise and fall of the Nine Yuan Observatory, even if I had a million courage, I wouldn't dare have such thoughts, it's really just that I noticed it now!" Tao Ji's face changed, and he fell to his knees, wailing.

The white-clothed man didn't pay attention to Tao Ji's wailing, his eyes flashing with white light, becoming brighter and brighter.

Tao Ji's body shook uncontrollably, his head bowed repeatedly.

"Hmph! Regardless of whether you're telling the truth or not, you've done some merit in finding the Chaos Crystal's thread. Now, you can go, later the Immortal Palace will choose a suitable body for you to reincarnate into," the white-clothed man said, his eyes flashing with white light, then suddenly dimming, and his body disappearing into thin air.

Tao Ji saw this, and his face relaxed, slowly standing up, wiping his forehead, and walking towards the outside.

A sly smile flashed in his eyes, and then disappeared.

The white-clothed man reappeared, his eyes still flashing with white light, his body disappearing into thin air once again.

Tao Ji saw this, and his face changed, his eyes narrowing, and his body disappearing into the shadows.

A moment later, the white-robed man, referred to as "Gongzhu" by Tao Ji, appeared in a grand hall deep within the Jin Yuan Xian Palace.

Inside the hall, a golden disc about the size of a foot floated in mid-air, radiating a bright golden light and forming a complex transmission array.

He took out a purple token, one side of which was engraved with the three golden characters "Jiuyuan Guan", while the other side featured a majestic landscape of mountains and rivers.

The white-robed man was about to place the token into the transmission array, but his gaze flickered and he stopped.

He hesitated for a moment, then put the token away and turned to enter another grand hall.

"Come forth!" the white-robed man sat down on the main seat, his voice booming.

As soon as he spoke, two figures appeared out of thin air in front of him.

One was an old man with gray hair, small eyes that darted back and forth, a nose that was nearly twice as long as normal, and two wispy yellow mustaches. He looked like a giant, intelligent mouse.

The other was a burly man wearing a black robe, his arms crossed, with a black ghost-head battle knife on his back. His face was cold and expressionless.

"Gongzhu, what are your orders?" the two men bowed and spoke in unison.

The old man's voice was shrill, like the cry of a mouse in the fields, while the black-robed man's voice was rough and hoarse, like the sound of steel needles piercing the ear.

"Ly Yun, go to the North Han Xian Domain and investigate that Han Li. Start from the time he ascended to the True Immortal Realm and don't miss any details," the white-robed man ordered.

"Yes," the old man nodded.

"Hei Dao, go to the Tian Song Guan and track down Han Li's trail. Find him, but don't alert him," the white-robed man continued to order the black-robed man.

"Yes!" the black-robed man nodded.

"Go!" the white-robed man waved his hand, and the two men disappeared in an instant.

The white-robed man closed his eyes, leaning back in his chair, a faint smile on his lips.

At this moment, Han Li was riding a sky-blue flying car, which had transformed into a blue streak of light as it flew forward.

This flying car was found in the storage device of the Zhuo Gu True Person, and its quality was not inferior to his previous blue jade flying car.

He sat cross-legged in the flying car, controlling its movement while simultaneously waving his hand to release over a hundred storage devices from his sleeve. These were the storage devices he had obtained from Tao Ji and the others.

Han Li took out Tao Ji's storage device, his divine sense entering it, and after a moment, a golden light flashed, and a golden token appeared. One side of the token was engraved with a dragon pattern, while the other side had the words "Tao Ji" written on it. The bottom of the token had the words "Jin Yuan Xian Palace" written in small characters.

He looked at the token, his brow furrowed.

He had been entangled in a web of debts with the Heavenly Court for many years, and he was quite familiar with the various Xian Palaces. He also knew a great deal about the identity tokens used by the Xian Palaces.

This identity token was a long-standing token of the Jin Yuan Xian Palace.

He put the token away and examined the storage device of the other person, Jing Chuan, and quickly determined his identity. Jing Chuan was a elder of the Tian Shui Sect, a large sect in the Jin Yuan Xian Domain.

As for the other Golden Immortals, half of them were from the Jin Yuan Xian Palace, while the other half were from the Tian Shui Sect.

These people's cultivation was not low, and they held a certain status within the Xian Palaces and sects. However, to Han Li, the items in their storage devices, aside from the numerous immortal stones, were not very impressive.

He simply divided the items into several categories, planning to exchange them for immortal stones in the future. The number of immortal stones he had obtained would be enough for a Taiyi Realm cultivator to cultivate in seclusion for at least a million years.

Han Li was organizing his spoils, a contemplative look on his face.

The Tian Shui Sect was not a concern for now, but the Jin Yuan Xian Domain was one of the Heavenly Court's top domains, and its ruler was at least a Da Luo Realm cultivator. This was far beyond the North Han Xian Domain where he had first arrived in the True Immortal Realm.

He had killed one of their elders and many Golden Immortals, and although there were no survivors, he didn't know what methods they might use to find him.

But as the saying went, "many debts don't weigh on the body." The Heavenly Court had killed him before, and since his identity had already been exposed, they would not spare him. So, he might as well kill one more, or a pair, and see how it went.

His current cultivation and physical strength were far beyond what they had been when he first arrived in the True Immortal Realm. Even if a Da Luo Realm cultivator came, he was confident he could escape.

However, the Jin Yuan Xian Palace was backed by the Heavenly Court, an enormous organization that included the existence of the Dao Ancestor. Although he had caused a stir before, it was unlikely to have attracted the attention of the Dao Ancestor. But now, it was uncertain.

He was quite confident in his abilities, but he was not arrogant enough to think he could oppose the entire Heavenly Court.

It seemed that for now, he had no choice but to hide his tracks.

Han Li took out several thick books and flipped through them quickly.

These books were from the storage devices of Tao Ji and the others, and they contained information about the Jin Yuan Xian Domain.

The books were detailed records of the domain's geography, human geography, and other information. Han Li's mind was preoccupied with multiple things, and he was simultaneously flipping through several books. With his current memory abilities, he finished reading them in an instant.

His eyes flashed momentarily, and then he pinched a seal.

The flying car's blue light flashed, and it immediately changed direction, speeding forward.

More than a decade passed in the blink of an eye.

In a certain location within the Golden Source Immortal Domain, a blue streak of light flashed across the sky, coming to a gentle stop. A blue flying car appeared.

In front of the flying car was a massive, golden mountain range, with peaks that reached into the clouds. The mountain range stretched out to the sides, extending to the limits of one's vision, resembling a gigantic, golden heavenly moat that stretched across the horizon.

The golden mountain range was surrounded by a dense, golden mist that made the peaks within seem to appear and disappear, giving off an air of mystery.

"We've finally arrived," Han Li said, standing on the flying car and gazing out at the mountain range with a relaxed expression.

Standing beside Han Li was a black-robed girl, none other than the recently awakened Qiuhun.

Her complexion still looked somewhat pale, and her beautiful eyes flashed with a hint of surprise as she gazed out at the massive mountain range.

This mountain range was known as the Golden Source Mountain Range, the most renowned mountain range in the Golden Source Immortal Domain. Unlike the complex geography of the Northern Frost Immortal Domain, the Golden Source Immortal Domain was comprised of a single, massive continent, with the Golden Source Mountain Range stretching from west to east, covering nearly half of the continent.

In terms of area, the Golden Source Mountain Range was the largest Han Li had ever seen.

The Golden Source Mountain Range was not only vast but also a place where wealth and danger coexisted.

This immortal domain was named the Golden Source Immortal Domain, and as the name suggested, the golden attribute spiritual energy was extremely dense. The Golden Source Mountain Range was the gathering place of the golden attribute spiritual veins throughout the entire immortal domain.

The golden attribute spiritual energy within the mountain range was incredibly dense, giving birth to countless golden attribute spiritual materials. Almost every cultivator in the Golden Source Immortal Domain would come to explore and search for treasure.

However, the Golden Source Mountain Range's golden attribute spiritual energy was too dense, causing the formation of numerous natural golden force fields within the mountain range. The deeper one went into the mountain range, the stronger the golden force fields became, greatly affecting the strength of ordinary cultivators.

Moreover, the Golden Source Mountain Range's golden attribute spiritual energy was too abundant, giving birth to many peculiar metal beasts. These strange creatures were formed from the golden attribute spiritual energy and possessed great strength. Since they were born in this place, they were not affected by the golden force fields, and they would often engage in fierce battles with cultivators.

The golden force fields, metal beasts, and other dangers within the mountain range resulted in countless cultivators losing their lives each year.

However, the allure of wealth and treasure was too great, and many cultivators continued to flock to the Golden Source Mountain Range, seeking to claim its riches.

The Golden Source Mountain Range was a natural treasure trove, and the Golden Source Immortal Palace would not ignore it. In fact, the Golden Source Immortal Palace was located at the western end of the Golden Source Mountain Range and had been trying to bring the entire mountain range under its control.

Unfortunately, the mountain range was too vast, and the Golden Source Immortal Palace could only control a small portion of the western region. The remaining area was controlled by numerous sects and noble families.

These regions were not unified under a single authority, and the various powers vied for their own interests, resulting in a chaotic situation.

Han Li had come to the Golden Source Mountain Range precisely because of this chaotic environment.

He had currently opened up over nine hundred acupoints, and based on his past experiences, he believed that continuing to open up his immortal acupoints would be much easier.

He now possessed a large quantity of immortal stones and planned to spend some time in secluded cultivation, aiming to rapidly improve his cultivation level.

Regardless of the circumstances, the sudden attack by Tao Ji and the others had instilled a sense of urgency within him.

He had an idea, and he once again activated the Wheel of Reincarnation mask, changing his appearance to that of a black-faced, black-bearded man. His cultivation level was suppressed to that of a Golden Immortal at the initial stage.

"Master, should I also use the Wheel of Reincarnation mask to change my appearance?" Qiuhun asked, seeing Han Li's actions.

"There's no need to bother, as no one recognizes you here," Han Li replied, shaking his head. He then activated the flying car, and it continued forward, soon entering the Golden Source Mountain Range.

As they drew closer, the Golden Source Mountain Range appeared even more majestic, and a massive, oppressive feeling washed over them, shaking their hearts.

Compared to the massive mountain range, Han Li and Qiuhun seemed like insignificant ants.

The spiritual energy in this place was extremely dense, with the majority being golden attribute spiritual energy. Other attributes were scarce.

This unique environment was ideal for cultivators who practiced golden attribute cultivation techniques, but it was unfavorable for others.

However, this environment did not affect Han Li, as he relied on medicinal pills for his cultivation rather than external spiritual energy.

"Master, where will we go next? Will we find a place to cultivate within the mountain range?" Qiuhun asked, looking around.

"There are many sects that have established cities within the Golden Source Mountain Range. Let's take a look and see if the outside is stable. If it is, we can cultivate there," Han Li replied after a brief moment of consideration.

"Alright!" Qiuhun nodded in agreement.

Han Li and the other person continued to move forward, soon flying into a mountain range tens of thousands of miles away.

"Roooaaaar!"

As the flying car passed by a golden mountain peak, a golden light flashed on the mountain wall, and a golden wolf-like monster suddenly flew out, transforming into a golden arrow that pounced on the flying car, its jaws wide open.

Han Li snapped his fingers, and a golden sword energy shot out, striking the wolf-like monster.

With a "chi" sound, the wolf-like monster was cut in half from head to toe, spewing out large amounts of golden blood.

Han Li emitted a stream of blue light, holding up the two halves of the wolf-like monster's corpse.

The wolf-like monster had originally been in a warm and soft state, but after it died, its corpse quickly hardened, and by now it had transformed into two golden statue-like objects.

"Is this the Metal Beast?" Ti Hu cried out, her eyes blinking several times as she curiously looked over.

Han Li also looked at the two halves of the monster's corpse, reaching out to snap off a small piece of its body.

The hardened Metal Beast's corpse and some golden mineral deposits were almost indistinguishable, with no signs of life whatsoever.

Han Li waved his hand, tossing the two halves of the corpse away, his brow furrowed.

The Metal Beast's strength was secondary; what was more astonishing was that this creature could merge with the mountain rocks, making its stealth abilities extremely strong.

This wolf-like Metal Beast was merely a low-level Metal Beast, but if it were a higher-level one, Han Li wasn't sure if he could even detect it.

In this case, it seemed that staying outside to cultivate was not a good idea.

The two of them continued to move forward, flying for a short while.

"Save me, save me..."

Just then, a series of divine thoughts transformed into sound waves came from the left front, seemingly from a woman, her voice extremely pitiful and evoking sympathy.

This divine thought wave was very unusual, directly transmitting into the hearts of the two people.

Han Li's eyebrows twitched; this technique of transforming divine thoughts into sound waves was novel, far surpassing the usual method of transmitting thoughts.

"Master, should we..." Ti Hu looked at Han Li, her expression filled with sympathy.

"Let's go take a look." Han Li had no intention of getting involved in other people's business, but since Ti Hu had spoken up, he couldn't refuse, and besides, he was somewhat curious about the owner of this voice.

He pinched his fingers, turning the flying car around, and simultaneously used a secret technique to conceal their tracks, flying towards the source of the sound.

A few breaths later, the flying car stopped beside a valley, where five golden lights were surrounding a beautiful young woman in a green dress, fiercely battling.

The voice for help was coming from the young woman.

The young woman's situation was not good; her protective green light was being suppressed to a thin layer, and could break through and kill her at any moment. She was desperately resisting the attacks around her, while also emitting the unusual sound wave to seek help.

"Ah!" Han Li's face revealed a hint of surprise.

This young woman in green was a member of the demon tribe, her cultivation not weak, having already reached the mid-stage of the True Immortal realm.

And the golden lights surrounding her were five Daoist priests wearing golden crown robes, with a golden horse pattern on their sleeves, looking like the uniform of a certain sect.

These five people had also reached the True Immortal realm, although they were only at the initial stage, but they had the advantage of numbers.

The five people were holding golden flags, using their magic to form a golden light circle, tightly suppressing the young woman.

"Haha, little demon girl, hand over the Golden Dragon Beast's inner pellet, and surrender obediently. Looking at your pure and unadulterated green fox bloodline, we won't kill you, but will take you in and offer you as a birthday gift to our master." The leader of the five Daoist priests, a tall and thin man, sneered.

"Your green fox tribe is just a small and insignificant tribe, on the verge of being destroyed by other forces at any moment. What future do you have? Our Golden Horse Sect is a hundred times stronger than your green fox tribe, and our master is a Golden Immortal, being able to become his concubine is your good fortune, don't be ungrateful!" Another Daoist priest wildly laughed.

"Hmph! If it weren't for the fact that I exhausted most of my energy in the great battle with the Golden Dragon Beast, you five would not be able to trap me!" The young woman in green gritted her teeth and retorted.

"Since you're not willing to accept our offer, big brother, let's not waste any more words on this demon girl. Use the Five Golden Radiance Array to break her protective green light and seal her cultivation, then offer her to our master. He has always wanted a green fox tribe concubine, and if we offer him the young master of the green fox tribe, he will definitely be pleased and reward us heavily." A short and fat Daoist priest shouted.

"Impossible, the Five Golden Radiance Array is too powerful, and breaking her protective green light will likely damage her foundation. What's the point of offering her to our master then?" The tall and thin Daoist priest shook his head and said.

"Big brother is right!"

"We almost got impulsive and ruined a great gift!"

"Indeed, let's slowly grind down her last bit of demonic energy instead!"

The other Daoist priests all chimed in.

The young woman in green heard the five Daoist priests treating her like a piece of meat, and her anger surged. The green light on her body suddenly brightened, and the tail behind her suddenly tensed up, a burst of green fox hair shooting out, emitting a terrifying whistling sound as it struck the surrounding golden light circle.

The golden light circle instantly shook violently, rapidly becoming thin.

The five Daoist priests saw this and quickly spat out a stream of essence blood, injecting it into the golden flags in their hands.

The golden flags instantly flew out, merging with the golden light circle, and the five Daoist priests simultaneously used their hands to cast a spell. The golden light ring immediately stabilized, withstanding the attack of the fox hair.

The blue-clothed girl's attack was unsuccessful, and the blue light on her body quickly dimmed, finally shattering with a loud crash.

She seemed to be unstable, falling towards the ground.

The five Taoists were overjoyed at the sight.

The lead Taoist, with a lecherous smile on his face, flew out and reached out to grab the blue-clothed girl.

"Master!" The Wailing Soul cried out in urgency and anger, looking at Han Li, who remained unmoved.

"Don't worry, the unfortunate one is not that girl," Han Li said with a calm smile.

The Wailing Soul was taken aback by his words, and just then, the situation on the ground took a drastic turn.

The blue-clothed girl, who had been unstable, suddenly steadied herself as the lead Taoist approached. Her clear eyes flashed with a cold light.

The lead Taoist was shocked, realizing he had fallen into a trap. He tried to stop himself and retreat, but it was too late.

The blue-clothed girl raised her hands, and several blue lights shot out, striking the lead Taoist.

The blue lights were extremely sharp, easily piercing the lead Taoist's protective light and revealing his true form - a few fingers.

The lead Taoist's vital points were struck, and he spat out blood, his eyes filled with regret. He fell to the ground, his life force quickly fading away.

The blue-clothed girl had successfully counterattacked, but she had exhausted her demonic energy and could no longer stand, falling to the ground.

The other four Taoists, enraged, attacked the blue-clothed girl with various magical artifacts.

The girl's face showed no fear, calmly gazing at the attacks as they fell upon her. Her hand, hidden behind her back, was pinching a spell, her eyes flashing with determination.

Just then, a blue light appeared above the blue-clothed girl's head.

The attacks fell upon the blue light, which seemed to be as soft as cotton. The magical artifacts sank into it, but the blue light suddenly flashed, and the artifacts rebounded, striking the four Taoists with increased speed.

The four Taoists' bodies exploded, turning into a bloody rain.

The blue-clothed girl's eyes widened in shock, but her hand remained steady.

Just then, two figures descended from the air, revealing Han Li and the Wailing Soul.

"Thank you, sirs, for saving my life," the blue-clothed girl said, her face pale, as she struggled to stand up and bow to the two.

"It was nothing, don't be polite," the Wailing Soul said, hastily waving his hand and releasing a stream of light to support the girl.

The blue-clothed girl did not show any resentment towards the Wailing Soul's kindness, instead smiling at him, and her hand relaxed.

"What's your name? Which faction of the Golden Source Mountain Range do you belong to? And what's the situation with these people?" Han Li asked the girl, glancing at the Wailing Soul.

"I'm Ye Susu, a member of the Qing Huo tribe," the girl replied respectfully. "These people are disciples of the Golden Horse Sect, and we've always been at odds with them. I was hunting a Golden Python beast, but my energy was severely depleted, and they took advantage of me. Luckily, I met you two sirs."

Han Li's eyes flashed with interest.

"I intervened because of the Wailing Soul, and also because you're a member of the fox tribe," he said. "Perhaps you have a connection to the Tian Huo tribe, where Liu Le'er is from."

Ye Susu explained that the Golden Horse Sect was the largest faction in the area, with over 10,000 disciples and several Golden Immortals, including a powerful elder who had reached the late stage of the Golden Immortal realm.

Han Li listened attentively, nodding his head.

Ye Susu answered Han Li's questions, her face pale and almost translucent, her body trembling slightly. However, she remained standing, gritting her teeth.

"You're injured, so let's focus on recovering your wounds first," Han Li said, raising his hand.

A blue light shot out from his hand, entering Ye Susu's body. She felt a warm, powerful energy flowing into her, restoring her damaged body and stabilizing her energy.

The energy eventually merged with her demonic core, causing it to glow brightly and expand slightly.

Ye Susu sat down, cross-legged, and began to circulate her energy, ignoring her exhaustion.

"Master, is she alright?" Ti Hu returned to Han Li's side and asked softly.

"She's fine, she just exhausted her demonic energy, causing her foundation to become unstable. I've already smoothed out the hidden dangers within her body, and her demonic energy will recover on its own. But I didn't expect you to have such a good impression of Ye Susu, you've never been so kind to anyone before." Han Li said with a hint of surprise.

"I don't know... maybe it's because her spiritual energy is so pure, like a mountain spring, clean and far-reaching, it makes me feel comfortable." Ti Hu lowered her head, her voice filled with a hint of embarrassment.

"Spiritual energy... you can sense that?" Han Li's face showed surprise.

"I was in a coma, my vital energy was severely depleted, but my law comprehension improved, allowing me to sense the spiritual energy of every person. With this ability, no one can hide their true nature from me!" Ti Hu said with a hint of pride.

Han Li listened to her words, his face showing surprise.

Ti Hu's ability, if true, was indeed impressive. It was said that one could know a person's face but not their heart, and even with high cultivation and strong spiritual energy, one could only judge a person's character through experience and intuition.

"That's impressive, but what about my spiritual energy?" Han Li asked with curiosity.

"Master's spiritual energy is too vast, I couldn't sense it clearly, but overall, Master's spiritual energy is upright and just." Ti Hu glanced at Han Li, her voice hesitant.

"Upright and just, I'm afraid I don't deserve those words, being able to not betray my own conscience is already good enough." Han Li shook his head.

"Cultivation is a perilous path, and those who are too soft-hearted will not be able to go far. Sometimes, being too indecisive can harm oneself, and even harm those one cares about. Master may seem cold to outsiders, but you have your own principles and never betray them, which is rare in this vast spiritual world." Ti Hu shook her head, speaking seriously.

"I didn't expect you to have such insight after being in a coma for so long." Han Li laughed, his expression noncommittal.

He then turned his gaze, waving his hand to release a stream of cyan light that retrieved the storage devices from the five Golden Horse Sect members.

The five True Immortals' magical artifacts and treasures were of no interest to Han Li, but they did have some scriptures and information about the Jin Yuan Mountains and the surrounding forces, which was what he needed.

Han Li took out the scriptures and began to carefully read through them.

Ti Hu watched the scene, waiting quietly without interrupting.

More than an hour passed, and Ye Susu stood up, looking refreshed and revitalized, her vital energy fully recovered and her aura even stronger.

"Senior, not only did you save my life, but you also exhausted your own vital energy to help me break through my cultivation bottleneck. I, Susu, will never forget this kindness. If Senior has any tasks, please just command me." Ye Susu spoke with determination.

"It's nothing, don't worry about it." Han Li waved his hand, speaking lightly.

"If the two seniors don't mind, I'd like to invite you to stay in our Qing Huo Clan's Qing Huo City for a few days, and let me show you some hospitality." Ye Susu looked at Han Li and Ti Hu, a hint of expectation in her eyes.

Ti Hu didn't speak, looking at Han Li.

Ye Susu followed her gaze, also looking at Han Li.

"Alright, we'll come to the Jin Yuan Mountains to travel, and we don't have any specific destination in mind, so we'll take you up on your offer." Han Li nodded, agreeing.

"That's great, please follow me." Ye Susu's face lit up, and she spat out a stream of cyan flames that incinerated the five Golden Horse Sect members' corpses, then waved her hand to release a flying boat magical artifact.

Han Li watched Ye Susu's efficient and ruthless actions, nodding in approval.

The three of them boarded the flying boat, heading towards the depths of the mountains.

"By the way, I didn't ask for your names, seniors." Ye Susu controlled the flying boat, asking.

"I'm Han Li, and she's Ti Hu. You can just call us by our names, no need to use titles." Han Li's gaze flashed, not using his pseudonym.

Over the years, he had used pseudonyms to avoid trouble, but now that his true identity was no longer a secret, he didn't see the need to hide it anymore.

"Ah, I see, so it's Han Li and Ti Hu. I'll make sure to remember it, seniors. Although our Qing Huo Clan is a demon clan, we also know about etiquette." Ye Susu spoke seriously.

Han Li smiled lightly, not pursuing the matter further.

"Hehe, it was Master who saved you, not me. You can just call me Ti Hu, no need to use titles." Ti Hu laughed, approaching Ye Susu and taking her hand.

"This... " Ye Susu glanced at Han Li, seeing that he didn't seem to mind, and relaxed, starting to chat with Ti Hu.

The two women seemed to have a natural affinity, and Ye Susu was quite talkative, while Ti Hu was curious and asked questions like a child, quickly becoming familiar and laughing together. Not long after, the flying boat arrived at a massive mountain valley.

This valley covered an area of several thousand miles, with a massive city built within it. The city was constructed using materials that were mostly gold in color, with walls that were extremely high and not much shorter than the surrounding mountains. The city did not stand upright, but instead curved inward from all sides, without fully closing in.

Around the city, dozens of massive gold-colored stone pillars stood, each topped with a gigantic gold-colored sphere hundreds of feet in diameter. It was unclear what they were used for.

At this moment, several streaks of light shot forth from the front, landing in front of the flying boat. Several figures in blue robes appeared, all of whom were members of the Qing Huo tribe.

"Master, you've returned!"

A tall, thin man led the group, his face filled with joy as he approached. However, upon seeing Han Li and Ti Huo standing beside Ye Su Su, his brow furrowed in a mixture of surprise and wariness.

"Who are you?"

"They are honored guests I've invited, and they have saved my life. You must not be rude to them," Ye Su Su said, her expression somewhat displeased.

The thin man was taken aback, his mouth opening as if to ask about Ye Su Su's encounter with danger. However, he restrained himself.

"Ah, I see. I apologize for my mistake earlier," the thin man said, bowing his head in respect to Han Li and Ti Huo.

Ti Huo shook her head, a faint smile on her face, indicating that she didn't mind.

Han Li ignored the thin man and the others, instead gazing out at the valley below. He noticed that the valley was home to a large wood-attribute spirit vein, with dense wood-attribute energy emanating from the earth. The valley was filled with lush green vegetation, and the air was filled with the scent of wood and gold.

The Qing Huo tribe had indeed found a suitable place to settle, surrounded by the energies of wood and gold. However, the materials used to construct the city below were unlike anything Han Li had seen before. The gold-colored stone had a faint, dark pattern on its surface, resembling the growth rings of a tree. It emitted a cold, gloomy energy that was distinct from the energies of the Jin Yuan mountain range.

"That's Jin Wu stone, found deep within the Jin Yuan mountain range. It can block the stealthy movements of metal beasts, and most cities within the Jin Yuan mountain range are built using this material. Otherwise, it would be impossible to live safely with those metal beasts around," Ye Su Su explained, noticing Han Li's gaze.

Han Li had also read about Jin Wu stone in the ancient texts he had obtained from the Jin Ma Sect. He nodded slightly in response.

The thin man, whose name was Ye Ping, noticed Ye Su Su's respectful attitude towards Han Li and Ti Huo, and his expression changed. He discreetly probed their cultivation levels, and his face immediately changed.

"Ah, I see that two esteemed seniors have arrived. Please follow me," Ye Ping said, bowing his head in respect as he led the way towards the city.

As they walked, Ye Su Su asked Ye Ping about her mother's condition, using a transmission technique to communicate with him. Ye Ping replied that the tribe's leader was still recovering from her injuries, and that the elder was watching over her.

Ye Su Su's expression relaxed, and she continued, "I've gathered all the materials needed for the Hua Xue Gui Yuan formation. I'm certain I can cure my mother's illness!"

Ye Ping's expression, however, was complex, and he didn't seem to share Ye Su Su's enthusiasm.

Han Li glanced at Ye Su Su and Ye Ping, noticing that they were communicating through a transmission technique. He wondered what was going on.

The group soon arrived at the city gate, where the words "Qing Huo City" were inscribed. The gate was guarded, but Ye Su Su's presence ensured that they were able to pass through without any issues.

Inside the city, the streets were wide and paved with a type of blue brick. The buildings were constructed using wood, and the architecture was unlike anything Han Li had seen before. Some of the buildings were even constructed using unpolished tree trunks, but they didn't seem to be in disarray. Instead, they blended in with the natural surroundings, giving the city a unique charm.

The city was also home to many tall trees, which added to its beauty.

"Our Qing Huo City may not be large, but it has its own unique charm. I think it's worth a look," Ye Su Su said, smiling.

Han Li nodded in agreement, glancing at Ti Huo.

Ti Huo seemed to be enjoying the city, looking around with a curious expression.

Han Li noticed Ti Huo's reaction and felt a mix of emotions. He was happy to see her so carefree, but at the same time, he couldn't help but feel a pang of sadness. Ti Huo had become more lively and cheerful since her awakening, but it reminded him of the girl he had lost, Jin Tong. He wondered what had become of her and whether she had found what she was looking for.

Here is the translated text:

"I am the leader of the Qing Huo tribe, but my mother has been ill recently and has been in seclusion to recover, so she cannot come to greet you. Please forgive her," Ye Su Su said with a hint of apology, noticing that Han Li seemed to be in a daze.

"It's no trouble, we should pay our respects to the master anyway. Since she's in seclusion, we won't disturb her. The scenery in Qing Huo City is quite unique, could you show us around?" Han Li replied.

"Of course," Ye Su Su agreed, dismissing her attendants and leading Han Li and Ti Huo to explore the city.

Qing Huo City was vast, covering several thousand miles, with a generally flat terrain, but also several rivers and low mountains. The city was surrounded by lush forests, making it a beautiful sight.

As they walked, the sun began to set, casting a warm orange glow over the city.

Ye Su Su led Han Li and Ti Huo to the center of the city, where a grand palace stood.

The palace was enormous, covering an area of about 200-300 acres, and was made of wood, exuding a sense of grandeur and precision.

In front of the palace stood a massive statue of a blue fox, carved from a single piece of jade, its body towering over 100 feet tall, with nine long tails stretching behind it.

"This is the Tian Huo Palace, where my ancestors used to reside and hold meetings," Ye Su Su explained.

"Tian Huo Palace? Your tribe is called Qing Huo, why isn't it called Qing Huo Palace?" Han Li asked, his curiosity piqued.

"I'm not sure, it's just what our ancestors decided," Ye Su Su replied, shaking her head.

Han Li nodded thoughtfully, not pursuing the matter further.

"There are several quiet courtyards next to the palace, used to receive honored guests. It's getting late, so I'll let you rest here tonight, and I'll come visit you again tomorrow," Ye Su Su said, leading them to a nearby courtyard.

"Thank you," Han Li said, as Ye Su Su summoned two attendants to guard the courtyard before leaving.

Han Li watched Ye Su Su disappear into the distance, his eyes narrowing slightly before turning to Ti Huo and entering the courtyard.

The courtyard was paved with blue bricks, with a small garden to the left and a cluster of bamboo to the right. The night breeze rustled the flowers and bamboo, filling the air with a subtle fragrance.

Han Li nodded in approval, taking a seat in the main hall and falling into thought.

"Master, are you planning to stay in Qing Huo City for a while?" Ti Huo asked, approaching Han Li.

"How did you come to that conclusion?" Han Li asked, his brow raised in inquiry.

"If not for that, with your usual style, you would have just saved Ye Su Su and left. You wouldn't have used up your energy to help her cultivate, and you wouldn't have come here with her. And earlier, you asked Ye Su Su to show us around, wasn't that to gather information about the city?" Ti Huo asked, her eyes sparkling with mischief.

"Qing Huo City is a small and unassuming tribe in the Jin Yuan Mountains, and it's located in a remote area, making it a good place to hide. I've been exploring the city, and I haven't found any dangers," Han Li said, his eyes scanning the surroundings.

"That's great, but how can we stay here? The Qing Huo tribe seems to be quite hostile towards outsiders. Of course, if you show off your strength, it would be easy to stay, but that would defeat the purpose," Ti Huo said, her face lighting up with excitement before furrowing her brow.

As they had walked through the city earlier, they had noticed the hostile gazes of the Qing Huo tribe members towards them.

"Don't worry, I have a plan," Han Li said, his eyes glinting with amusement as he gazed towards the east side of the city.

...

Later that night, under the soft moonlight, a figure emerged from the city, flying towards the east side of the city.

The figure landed in front of a dense forest, revealing Ye Su Su, dressed in a majestic blue palace gown, her hair adorned with a jade crown.

In front of her stood a small, dilapidated statue of a blue fox, only half the size of the one in the palace. Ye Su Su's face was solemn as she bowed to the statue, then drew a drop of blood from her finger and dripped it onto the statue.

The statue's eyes suddenly lit up with a bright, pulsing blue light, which disappeared into the void.

The forest began to tremble, and a series of ripples appeared on the surface of the air.

Ye Su Su's palm also glowed with a bright blue light, which she extended towards the void, and then pulled back.

A tearing sound echoed through the air as a gap appeared in the void, revealing a dark and mysterious space.

Ye Su Su's eyes scanned the surroundings, ensuring that no one was watching, before she stepped into the void and disappeared. At this moment, a faint shadowy figure floated out, and before the void's crack could close, it flashed in.

Ye Susu only felt a blur in front of her eyes, and a large basin-like depression, dozens of miles in size, appeared before her.

The basin was mostly empty, with large tracts of spiritual fields opened up, and it seemed that many spiritual herbs and medicines were planted within.

However, the spiritual fields were surrounded by restrictive light screens, blocking the view of the inside, and waves of intense medicinal fragrance wafted out from the screens, making one's spirit quiver.

Ye Susu didn't pay attention to the spiritual fields and flew straight forward.

Behind her, the void flashed, and the shadowy figure reappeared, with Han Li's face emerging, looking around at the spiritual fields with a surprised expression.

Han Li was extremely familiar with various spiritual herbs and medicines, and just by smelling the fragrance, he knew that the herbs and medicines planted inside were extraordinary, comparable to his own medicine garden, and his heart couldn't help but be shocked.

To know that the medicine garden had taken him a great deal of effort to establish, and with the help of the Heaven's Palm Bottle, it had reached its current scale, and the Qing Huo clan's strength wasn't particularly powerful, yet they were able to cultivate a medicine garden comparable to his.

He moved his body and flew towards the spiritual fields below.

...

Ye Susu flew forward, quickly arriving at the depths of the basin.

A large, emerald-green pool of water appeared on the ground, with gentle waves and soft, rippling light.

Next to the pool were several large, blue-green stones, and she lightly tapped on one of them.

The stone suddenly sank downwards, revealing a dark cave entrance, and a long staircase leading deep into the earth.

Ye Susu stepped into the cave, quickly reaching the end.

A large, stone chamber appeared before her, with the ceiling inlaid with several fist-sized, white pearls, illuminating the space with a milky white light, and the walls flashing with starlight, making it look quite beautiful, with obvious restrictive spells cast upon it.

Inside the chamber, a white, jade bed was placed, and a woman in a blue dress lay on it, her lower body encased in a massive, blue ice mountain.

The ice mountain emitted a bone-chilling cold air, and the entire chamber was extremely cold, with faint, icy wisps floating in the air, as if they too were frozen.

The woman's face was deathly pale, her teeth clenched tightly, and her eyebrows furrowed, clearly enduring immense pain and suffering.

A string of sweat droplets the size of beans fell from her forehead, and as soon as they landed, they froze into ice beads.

A woman in a white dress stood beside the bed, her hands pressed on the woman's shoulders, and her hands emitted a bright, blue light, continuously flowing into the woman's body.

The woman in the white dress had an immense aura, clearly a Gold Immortal of the initial stage.

"Master, you've returned," the woman said, looking up at Ye Susu, her face slightly surprised, and she stopped her hand, bowing.

The woman on the bed also opened her eyes, looking at Ye Susu.

"Susu, you've returned," the woman said, her lips moving, revealing a difficult smile, and her eyes filled with tender emotions.

"Mother!" Ye Susu quickly walked to the bed, grasping the woman's hand, and her eyes suddenly turned red.

"Good child, Mother... is fine, it's just that the cold air has been invading more severely lately, but with Elder Qiu's help, I can withstand it. But you, you've gone out again, and this time you've been gone for so long, what have you encountered? Have you met any dangers?" the woman said gently.

"Child, I went to Jin Xi City, and traded some things with them, and on the way back, I met a few people from the Jin Ma Sect, it was a bit perilous, but fortunately, I met two seniors who helped me..." Ye Susu concealed most of the truth, simply recounting her journey.

To avoid her mother noticing anything unusual, she explained the matters of Han Li and Qi Huo in detail.

"What! Master, you actually invited a human cultivator into the Qing Huo City! The others in the clan don't know, but do you not know that the clan leader's current state is precisely because of those human cultivators?" the woman in the white dress said, her face immediately turning cold, and she scolded.

"Elder Qiu, the ones who harmed Mother are indeed human cultivators, but we can't just hate all human cultivators because of this. The Jin Yuan Immortal Realm is currently under human control, and the Qing Huo clan wants to develop, so we must interact with them. As the leaders of the Qing Huo clan, we must put aside personal grudges and consider the interests of the clan." Ye Susu's eyes flashed with hatred, but she quickly suppressed it, and sighed.

In the shadows of the corridor outside the hall, a blurry figure stood silently, which was Han Li.

He heard Ye Susu's words and a hint of admiration flashed in his eyes.

The woman in the white dress heard Ye Susu's words, her eyebrows furrowed, and she was about to say something, but was interrupted by the woman in the blue dress:

"Elder Qiu, let's do as Susu said, those two seniors have Gold Immortal-level strength, if we befriend them, it will be greatly beneficial to the Qing Huo clan's future development. My past injuries, you don't need to worry about them."

"Since the clan leader and Master have said so, then let's do it," the woman in the white dress said quietly.

"Thank you, Mother!" Ye Susu's face lit up with joy.

Su Su, forming alliances with various clans and developing our own clan is not wrong, but your safety is more important. You now bear the heavy responsibility of the Qing Huo Clan, and with your mother's current state, you must not take any risks," said the woman in blue, looking at Ye Su Su with a gentle sigh.

"No, mother, you will definitely recover!" Ye Su Su suddenly exclaimed.

"I will definitely recover, don't worry," the woman in blue hastily added, regretting her momentary lapse into pessimism.

Ye Su Su's head lowered slightly, her eyes flashing with determination. Her hands suddenly shot out, pointing at the woman in blue's forehead, and a brilliant white light burst forth from her fingertips.

"You...!" the woman in blue's eyes widened, but her pupils quickly became unfocused, and she fell into a deep sleep.

"Master, what are you doing?" the woman in white beside her exclaimed.

Ye Su Su didn't respond, instead taking out a crimson brush and beginning to draw intricate patterns on the ground around the jade bed. She then retrieved various materials and placed them within the patterns.

The woman in white opened her mouth to ask something, but seeing Ye Su Su's intense focus, she bit back her words.

Time passed, and half a day went by, with the sky outside gradually lightening to a pale blue.

Ye Su Su finally stopped, having completed a complex blood-red array around the jade bed.

"Master, what array is this?" the woman in white asked, seemingly unfamiliar with the array.

"The Hua Xue Gui Yuan Array!" Ye Su Su replied calmly.

"What! The Hua Xue Gui Yuan Array is a heaven-defying technique that strips away one's bloodline power and transfers it to another person. You want to use your Qing Huo bloodline power to aid our clan leader, but this is too reckless! The array will cause immense harm to your body, and once your bloodline power is stripped away, it can never be restored. You will ruin your own cultivation, and even be reduced to your original form," the woman in white warned.

"As long as I can save mother, I don't care," Ye Su Su said, her expression serene, with a hint of a gentle smile.

Han Li, watching from the shadows, saw Ye Su Su's expression and furrowed his brow, clearly moved.

"If that's the case, let me do it instead. My cultivation is far superior to yours, and the chances of success are greater," the woman in white suggested.

"No, Elder Qiu, your cultivation may be higher, but when it comes to the purity of the Qing Huo bloodline, I am more suitable. Moreover, Elder Qiu, you don't know that the closer the bloodline relationship between the two individuals, the higher the chances of success," Ye Su Su said firmly.

The woman in white was taken aback.

"Our clan leader's poisoning is extremely severe, and even with this technique, the chances of saving her are only 50%. If we fail, both of us will die here. Elder Qiu, you are the only intact Golden Immortal of our clan, and mother just said that my safety is important. In reality, your safety is more crucial. If you are safe, even if I and mother fall, our clan will still have a glimmer of hope. But if you were to fall, our clan would be doomed," Ye Su Su continued.

The woman in white stood silently, her expression unreadable.

"So, please leave this to me. If I and mother were to fall, our clan's future would be in your hands," Ye Su Su said, bowing her head slightly.

The woman in white remained silent, unsure of what to say.

Ye Su Su stepped forward, her eyes fixed on the blood-red array.

Just as she was about to enter the array, the woman in white grasped her wrist.

"Master...!" Ye Su Su turned to her.

"Elder Qiu, you just said that as leaders of the Qing Huo Clan, we should put the clan's interests above our personal feelings. You have exceptional talent, and your Qing Huo bloodline is extremely pure. Even I and our clan leader are inferior to you in this regard. Our clan's future is limitless with you. But if you use the Hua Xue Gui Yuan Array, you risk ruining your own cultivation. I know this sounds cruel, but if we consider the clan's interests, it's better for you not to take this risk," the woman in white said, her eyes filled with a mix of pain and pleading.

"No, my actions are not driven by personal feelings, but by the clan's interests. I may have some talent, but I'm still only a Mid-True Immortal. Who knows if I'll be able to reach the Golden Immortal stage in the future? If I can save mother, even with only a 50% chance, it's a worthwhile risk," Ye Su Su said, her expression calm and resolute.

The woman in white's eyes widened in alarm, but she couldn't think of anything else to say.

"Besides, it was because of me that mother was injured by the thieves from the Tian Shui Sect. Even you, Elder Qiu, were almost implicated. If I don't do something to help her, I'll live with guilt and regret for the rest of my life. That would affect my cultivation, and I might not even be able to reach the Late True Immortal stage," Ye Su Su said, her voice soft but firm.

The woman in white knew that Ye Su Su's mind was made up and wouldn't be swayed. She could only sigh and step back.

"I'll leave the future to you, Elder Qiu," Ye Su Su said, smiling faintly, before entering the blood-red array.

She sat down at the woman in blue's head, her hands forming a peculiar hand seal, and began to chant a mysterious incantation.

The stone room was filled with a sudden, earsplitting whine, and the blood-red array around the jade bed erupted in a brilliant light, as if it had come to life.

A powerful surge of energy burst forth from the array, expanding outward in all directions.

The woman in white's expression changed, and she quickly formed a hand seal, pointing at the stone room's walls.

The room's seals accelerated, and countless starlight patterns emerged, blocking the array's energy from escaping.

However, the blood-red array's energy was too intense, and some of it still managed to seep out.

The woman in white didn't have time to worry about that, her attention fixed on the two individuals within the array.

Just then, the blood-red array began to change.

A series of sharp, piercing whines echoed through the room, and countless blood-red threads erupted from the array, wrapping around Ye Su Su and entering her body.

Han Li, watching from the shadows, saw this and raised an eyebrow, his eyes filled with surprise.

Ye Su Su's body glowed with a bright, emerald light, her brows furrowed in pain, but she suppressed it, continuing to chant the incantation. The blood array's radiance intensified, and more blood-colored threads emerged, pouring into Ye Susu's body.

Ye Susu's body emitted a bright blue glow, and her skin flashed with a blue light, revealing a network of blue veins that seemed to traverse her entire body, shining with a fierce blood pulse.

At the same time, a blue fox phantom appeared behind her, exuding an aura of nobility and majesty, but with only two tails.

Ye Susu's hand suddenly extended, pressing against the brow of the blue-robed woman.

Innumerable blood-colored threads shot out from her palm, entering the woman's brow.

The blood-colored threads contained a faint blue pattern, which flowed into the woman's body.

The blue-robed woman's skin flashed with a blue light, revealing a network of blue veins, albeit less vibrant than Ye Susu's.

As Ye Susu's palm continued to inject the blood-colored threads, the woman's blue veins gradually brightened.

Ye Susu's own blue veins, however, began to fade, and her face rapidly turned pale. The blue fox phantom behind her also grew thinner.

But her eyes still shone with a hint of joy, and she pointed with her other hand.

A blue light shot out from her finger, entering the woman's lower abdomen.

A loud "boom" echoed, and the woman's body suddenly radiated a dazzling blue light, like the sun.

The blue light quickly receded, and a layer of blue flames enveloped her upper body, spreading towards her frozen lower half.

The blue flames clashed with the icy blue crystals, emitting a hissing sound, before slowly melting and disappearing.

The white-robed woman's tense face relaxed slightly as she watched.

In the distance, Han Li's eyes flashed with a purple glow, gazing at the icy blue crystals, before shaking his head.

The blue flames continued to advance, and the icy blue crystals rapidly melted, retreating from the woman's waist to her calves.

The woman's lower legs turned a deep blue, resembling two blue crystal shards, with a blue light pulsating within.

However, the icy blue crystals' melting slowed, and they began to resist the blue flames' assault.

Ye Susu's blue veins had faded significantly, and the blue fox phantom behind her had almost disappeared.

She gazed at the woman's blue lower legs, her eyes narrowing, and her voice low and urgent. The blood array beneath her flashed again, and a surge of blood energy flooded her body.

Ye Susu's blue veins flashed once more, before disappearing, coalescing into a blue light that merged with the woman's body.

The woman's blue flames surged, fiercely attacking the icy blue crystals, but ultimately failing to eradicate them.

Instead, the woman's blue light within her legs suddenly intensified, launching a counterattack that forced the blue flames to retreat.

A blast of icy energy erupted, and the icy blue crystals rapidly reformed, re-freezing the woman's body.

The stone chamber's temperature plummeted, and the walls creaked with a "crackling" sound, as a layer of ice crystals formed.

The blood array on the ground was also frozen, and Ye Susu's body was trapped within.

Her face turned deathly pale, and she stumbled, her eyes wide with terror, yet unable to act.

The white-robed woman's face changed, and she released the seal on the stone chamber's restriction, rushing towards Ye Susu.

Ye Susu turned to face her, and their eyes met.

The white-robed woman's face turned pale, and she froze, halting her approach.

The blue-robed woman on the bed stirred, awakened by the cold energy.

She assessed the situation, and her voice rose in a gentle shout. The blue flames on her body briefly intensified, temporarily repelling the blue light's invasion.

"Qiu Long, quickly take Susu away..." the blue-robed woman cried out.

But before she could finish, the blue light surged again, its radiance illuminating a multitude of blue runes, coalescing into a blue flame that shattered the blue-robed woman's defenses.

The icy blue crystals spread rapidly, reaching the woman's chest, on the verge of completely freezing her.

Ye Susu's body was also frozen, her lower half encased in ice.

The white-robed woman watched, her eyes struggling, before gritting her teeth and summoning a burst of blue energy, ready to charge forward.

Just then, a black figure appeared, blocking her path.

It was none other than Han Li.

A cultivator of the human tribe!

The white-robed woman was initially shocked, but then her eyes locked onto Han Li's identity, and a deep-seated hatred flashed in her eyes. The white cold light around her surged, and she was about to strike Han Li down.

"If you want these two to live, then stand still and don't move!" Han Li said calmly, then raised his hand in a seemingly casual motion.

A stream of green light shot out from his hand, blocking the surging blue cold light.

The blue flame seemed to be provoked, and it violently jumped and danced, the blue cold light also immediately bared its teeth and claws, like a furious beast, and violently attacked the green light.

The green light seemed thin and weak, but it was incredibly resilient, and no matter how the blue cold light attacked, it remained unmoving.

The white-robed woman saw this scene, and her raised arm stopped, but the white cold light around her did not dissipate, and it continued to stare at Han Li.

Han Li ignored the white-robed woman, and once again waved his sleeve.

Another stream of green light shot out, merging with the previous one, and then quickly suppressed the blue cold light.

The blue cold light that Ye Susu and the others had struggled to repel with great effort was unable to withstand Han Li's attack, and it was quickly pushed back to the small leg area.

Han Li waved his hand again, and a silver flame shot out from his sleeve, spinning and transforming into a silver firebird, which dove into the blue cold light and disappeared.

A clear and melodious cry echoed from within the blue cold light, and then a flash of silver light appeared, and a wave of intense heat burst out, causing the air around it to distort and become blurry.

The blue cold light was instantly torn apart and dispersed, and in its place, a wave of intense heat swept out, driving away the cold air in the room.

The ice crystals in the stone room instantly melted and disappeared.

The white-robed woman saw this scene, and her eyes widened in surprise, but her guard did not relax in the slightest.

After a short while, the silver firebird reappeared, its beak holding a small blue flame, and it swallowed it with a "gulp".

The blue flame disappeared into its mouth, and the firebird let out a happy cry, as if it had eaten a delicious meal.

Then the silver firebird flew back and disappeared into Han Li's sleeve.

At this time, the blue ice crystals on the blue-robed woman's body had completely disappeared, and she had unknowingly woken up, her eyes filled with a disbelieving expression.

The blue ice around Ye Susu had also disappeared, and she looked stunned.

But she immediately revealed a pained expression, and the green light around her body rapidly dissipated, her body shrinking, and a layer of green fur appearing on her skin.

"Susu!" the blue-robed woman's face changed, and she tried to get up from the bed.

"Don't move!" Han Li said calmly, and pointed his hand.

Two streams of green light shot out from his hand, entering the blue-robed woman's and Ye Susu's bodies.

The two women were immediately immobilized, as if they had been bound by a spell.

"You human tribe thief, what are you doing!" the white-robed woman shouted, her body flying towards Han Li.

Han Li didn't turn around, and waved his sleeve.

Five crystal threads shot out from his hand, entering the white-robed woman's body.

The white-robed woman's flying body froze, and she was unable to move, standing still and unable to struggle.

Han Li's other hand made a hand seal, and a blood light shot out, entering the blood array on the ground.

The blood array on the ground glowed brightly, and a wave of blood-colored light threads burst out, wrapping around the blue-robed woman's and Ye Susu's bodies, forming a blood-colored bridge between them.

Han Li's figure flashed, and he appeared beside the blue-robed woman, his palm striking her forehead.

A massive blood light shot out from his palm, raging into the blue-robed woman's body, and then flowed out, carrying away nearly half of the blue blood vessels on her body.

The blood light then flowed into Ye Susu's body, and the green fox blood vessels on her body reappeared, and her body returned to its original state, the green fur disappearing.

Moreover, the blood light also filled her body, replenishing the energy she had lost from using the array, and her pale face returned to normal, with a hint of redness.

Han Li stopped using the blood array, and his hands returned to his sides. Ye Su Su and the other two regained their mobility.

"Who are you?" the woman in blue clothing asked, standing up from the bed, with a slight sway, and Ye Su Su quickly supported her.

"Mother, this is Han Qian Bei, the one I told you about before. Han Qian Bei, this is my mother, the leader of the Qing Huo tribe." Ye Su Su quickly introduced them.

"Ah, Han Dao You, nice to meet you. I am Ye Luo, the leader of the Qing Huo tribe. Thank you for helping me and my daughter, driving out the cold toxin from my body and restoring my Qing Huo bloodline. I owe you a great debt, and if you need anything from our tribe in the future, just let us know." Ye Luo said solemnly.

The white-clothed woman beside her furrowed her brow, but didn't say anything.

"No need to be polite, I'm just a guest in Qing Huo City, and I saw that the master had a problem, so I naturally lent a hand." Han Li said with a faint smile.

"Han Qian Bei's divine abilities are truly remarkable, easily driving out the cold toxin from my mother's body and restoring my bloodline. How did you do it?" Ye Su Su asked, looking at Han Li with a few hints of admiration.

"Han Mou has done some research on bloodlines, and it was fortunate that Ye Dao You's bloodline and the leader's body hadn't completely dissipated, otherwise I wouldn't have been able to restore it." Han Li explained vaguely.

"Han Dao You, thank you for saving our leader and young master. But I have a question, this is a secret place of our Qing Huo tribe, how did you enter without permission?" The white-clothed woman asked, her tone somewhat aggressive.

"Han Dao You, this is Ye Qiu, our tribe's elder. Qiu Long Lao, Han Dao You is our tribe's noble guest, don't speak out of turn." Ye Luo quickly introduced the white-clothed woman's identity, then softly scolded her.

"No need to apologize, Qiu Long Lao's question is normal. Han Mou is quite skilled in investigative arts, and tonight I was bored, so I went out to admire the moon, and felt the intense fluctuations in the atmosphere here, so I cast a spell to investigate, and saw the situation was critical, so I came to intervene, and apologize for any offense." Han Li said with a light laugh.

"Ah, I see. Thanks to Han Qian Bei's timely arrival." Ye Su Su said, sticking out her tongue.

"You should say, earlier, you were reckless, and dared to transfer the bloodline on your own, such a major matter, if Han Dao You hadn't been here, the consequences would have been unthinkable." Ye Luo said sternly.

Ye Su Su looked down, her small mouth pouting, seemingly not very obedient.

Ye Luo saw Ye Su Su's expression, and glared at her, but didn't scold her further, considering Han Li's presence.

"This place is a mess, it's not suitable for receiving Han Dao You, Su Su, you take Han Dao You back, and I'll go visit him personally tomorrow." Ye Luo said.

"I'll take my leave then." Han Li said, nodding slightly.

Ye Luo returned the courtesy, but Ye Qiu didn't move, her face cold and unfriendly, clearly full of distrust towards Han Li.

Han Li didn't pay attention to Ye Qiu's attitude, and turned to leave.

Ye Su Su followed closely behind, and they soon exited the underground tunnel, and arrived outside.

Han Li looked at the numerous spiritual fields in the valley, and stopped.

"I noticed this place earlier, and didn't expect to see so many spiritual fields, and the spiritual grass and medicine inside are of such high quality. Is your Qing Huo tribe skilled in cultivating spiritual grass?" Han Li asked Ye Su Su.

"The spiritual fields are surrounded by restrictions, and Han Qian Bei can see the situation inside? Ah, yes, the restrictions here are no match for Han Qian Bei's skills." Ye Su Su seemed to have relaxed a lot, and playfully raised an eyebrow, then smiled.

Han Li just smiled, and didn't respond.

"As for cultivating spiritual grass and medicine, I'm not bragging, but in the entire Jin Yuan mountain range, our Qing Huo tribe is second to none! Han Qian Bei, do you need any spiritual grass for cultivation? This is a list of the various spiritual grass and medicine that our tribe cultivates, if you need any, just let me know, and I'll send them over immediately." Ye Su Su said proudly, then took out a jade slip and handed it to Han Li.

"I do need some spiritual grass, so I won't be polite." Han Li took the jade slip, and scanned it with his divine sense, nodding inwardly, then said.

He had already looked at the spiritual grass and medicine in the fields, and they matched the records on the jade slip, and Ye Su Su hadn't hidden anything.

"Han Qian Bei, Qiu Long Lao wasn't very friendly to you earlier, please forgive her. She's not intentionally targeting you, but Qiu Long Lao's parents, and two younger brothers, all died at the hands of human cultivators, so she's very hostile towards human cultivators." Ye Su Su whispered.

"Ah, I understand." Han Li said, nodding.

The two of them didn't stay there, and soon flew off towards the distance.

...

In the underground stone room, Ye Qiu set up several layers of restrictions, then stopped.

"Qiu Long Lao, I know you hate human cultivators, but Han Dao You has helped our tribe three times, so please try to control your hostility, at least on the surface, don't be so rude." Ye Luo said, sighing.

"Do you think this person came to our Qing Huo tribe with good intentions?" Ye Qiu asked, coldly.

"What do you mean?" Ye Luo asked, frowning.

...

Recommended by "Qi Jia Qi Ge" - "Jiu Long Tun Zhu"

Qiu Zhanglao spoke in a solemn tone, "Tribe Leader, forgive me for speaking straightforwardly. This person just said they sensed the magical fluctuations in this place, so they came over, but I think it's not that simple. Even if this person's scouting technique is exceptional, allowing them to sense the situation here despite the multiple layers of restrictions, the Mysterious Void Great Array surrounding the Wood Spirit Basin should have reacted when they entered. However, I didn't feel any anomalies in the array. I suspect he secretly followed the Young Master, entered this place earlier, and has been spying on us, I'm not sure what his intentions are."

Ye Lü pondered for a moment, then shook his head and said, "Your words are not without reason, but these are just speculations. Even if Han Dao Friend secretly entered this place, he shouldn't have any malicious intentions towards the Qing Huo tribe, otherwise, he could have taken action earlier and killed us three, and no one would be able to stop him."

Qiu Zhanglao remained silent for a moment before speaking, "I understand, Tribe Leader. Regardless of his intentions, just looking at how easily he dispelled the cold poison in my body, his strength is far beyond ours. We must not offend such a person."

Ye Lü's expression relaxed, and he warned again, "I understand, but if we find out he's plotting against our tribe, I'll risk my life to stop him."

Qiu Zhanglao's eyes showed a hint of pain, and he nodded slowly.

Ye Lü didn't say anything else, just patted Qiu Zhanglao's shoulder lightly.

"Tribe Leader, you just dispelled the cold poison, and your vitality hasn't recovered yet. Please rest well, I'll take my leave." Qiu Zhanglao said, then bid farewell and left.

Ye Lü nodded, watching Qiu Zhanglao leave, then returned to the jade bed, sat down, and began to meditate to recover.

The night passed without incident.

The next morning, Ye Lü and Ye Su Su arrived at Han Li's residence, but Qiu Zhanglao didn't come. Ti Hu was also cultivating in the flower branch space and didn't come out.

"Qing Huo City is located in a remote area, and its architecture emphasizes natural style, so there's no grand, beautiful reception area. I apologize for letting Han Dao Friend reside in this small courtyard." Ye Lü said with a hint of apology.

After a day of rest, her complexion looked much better.

"No need to apologize, I prefer this quiet environment." Han Li let them in, smiling.

"Please don't hesitate to ask for anything, Han Dao Friend," Ye Lü said.

"Thank you, Tribe Leader. I've heard that the Qing Huo tribe excels at cultivating spirit herbs, and I'd like to request some. Here's the list." Han Li handed over a jade slip.

During his journey to the Jin Yuan Mountain Range, he had been gathering materials for a Tai Yi-grade elixir called the "Tian Qing Dan". He now had a considerable amount of spirit stones, as well as many precious materials from the Gray Realm, Demon Realm, and Ji Lin's realm.

He had used the Rebirth Palace's mask to purchase or exchange materials for the Tian Qing Dan, and now he only needed a few more materials. Coincidentally, he found that the Qing Huo City had the materials he needed.

Ye Lü had already learned about this from Ye Su Su, but when she received the jade slip, her expression still changed.

"Han Dao Friend requires a large quantity of spirit herbs, and the years required are also very high. However, please don't worry, Tribe Leader, I'm not asking the Qing Huo tribe to provide them for free." Han Li took out a storage device and placed it on the table.

"Tribe Leader, you're too kind. I should be the one to thank you." Ye Lü's divine sense scanned the storage device, and her expression turned slightly joyful, before she looked embarrassed.

"I... understand. But if I find out you're plotting against our tribe, I'll risk my life to stop you." Qiu Zhanglao had said earlier.

Ye Lü didn't say anything else, just patted Qiu Zhanglao's shoulder lightly.

"Su Su, please go and fetch the materials Han Dao Friend needs." Ye Lü handed the jade slip to Ye Su Su, instructing her.

"Yes." Ye Su Su replied, then left.

"Han Dao Friend, please forgive me for asking, but what brings you to our Qing Huo City?" Ye Lü asked, her eyes fixed on Han Li.

"Han Dao Friend, I have no malicious intentions towards the Qing Huo City. I just like the peaceful and safe environment here, and I want to cultivate in seclusion for a while. Is it possible?" Han Li replied, his expression sincere.

"Is that all?" Ye Lü's expression changed, showing a hint of surprise.

"Of course. I don't care about the Qing Huo tribe's other things, Tribe Leader can rest assured." Han Li waved his hand casually.

"Is that so... I was overthinking." Ye Lü observed Han Li's every expression, and seeing that he wasn't lying, her heart relaxed, and she smiled. Han Li thanked the clan leader and then said with a profound meaning, "I hope the clan leader can help cover up the news of my and Ti Hu's presence here, it would be beneficial for both of us."

Ye Luo was taken aback, but nodded in agreement.

The two of them had a frank and open conversation, and after discussing the main topic, they both felt a bit more relaxed and started chatting about various things in the Jinyuan Mountain Range.

"Clan leader Ye Luo, I've read in some ancient texts that the demon tribes in the Jinyuan Mountain Range are not many, and most of them are from the outside world. Your Qing Huo tribe is skilled in wood-attribute divine abilities and illusions, which doesn't seem to match the environment here. Are you also from the outside world?"

Han Li asked suddenly, as if he had thought of something.

Ye Luo nodded, "What you said is correct, our tribe indeed migrated from the outside world many years ago and settled here."

"I'm sorry to ask, but where did your tribe migrate from?" Han Li asked further.

Ye Luo replied, "I'm not very clear about that, our tribe's ancient texts don't have any clear records. I remember reading a ancestor's notes, it seems that our tribe migrated from the southern part of the Jinyuan Continent, but it's been too long ago, I'm not very sure. Why did you ask this?"

Han Li smiled, "It's nothing, I just happened to meet another Liu-surnamed fox tribe many years ago, and I felt that they were similar to your Qing Huo tribe, so I asked."

Ye Luo's eyes lit up, "Liu-surnamed fox tribe? According to our tribe's ancient texts, when our Qing Huo tribe first settled here, a female ancestor named Liu Mei joined our tribe and brought the secret technique of cultivating spirit grass. It seems that she is the one who brought this technique. I and Su Su are also descendants of this Liu Mei ancestor, but she never mentioned her past, she is a mysterious figure in our tribe's history. Could it be that she is related to the Liu-surnamed fox tribe you mentioned?"

Han Li shook his head, "I'm not sure, I didn't have much contact with that Liu-surnamed fox tribe, I'm not sure if they also cultivate spirit grass."

Ye Luo's face showed a hint of disappointment, but she asked again, "Han Dao friend, can you tell me more about that Liu-surnamed fox tribe?"

Han Li thought for a moment before telling Ye Luo about his encounter with the Liu-surnamed fox tribe in the barbarian domain, but omitted the parts that involved himself.

Ye Luo listened attentively, nodded slowly, and then fell silent.

Just then, Ye Su Su flew in from outside and handed Han Li a storage artifact. "Han Shixiong, the spirit grass you wanted is inside, please check it."

Han Li took the storage artifact, scanned it with his divine sense, and nodded in satisfaction.

Ye Luo suddenly stood up, pulled Ye Su Su, and bid farewell to Han Li.

Han Li saw them off, closed the door, and then turned to the empty space, "What do you think of Ye Luo, is she speaking the truth?"

As soon as he finished speaking, a light door appeared beside him, and Ti Hu's figure emerged from it.

"Ye Luo's soul is very pure, she is not a deceitful person. I carefully examined her soul fluctuations when she spoke, and there were no unusual changes. What she said was the truth." Ti Hu said after a moment of thought.

Han Li's face relaxed, "That's good, it was worth me expending my energy to help her drive out the cold toxin last night."

Ti Hu's awakening had greatly increased her divine abilities, allowing her to see through people's true nature and judge whether they were telling the truth by sensing their soul fluctuations. This had saved Han Li a lot of trouble.

"Master, the Liu-surnamed fox tribe you mentioned to Ye Luo, is it the same as the Tian Huo tribe where Liu L'er is?" Ti Hu asked, her eyes sparkling.

Han Li nodded, "Yes, I was trying to find out if there's a connection between the two."

Ti Hu asked, "Does this mean that the Qing Huo tribe is actually a branch of the Tian Huo tribe?"

Han Li thought for a moment before responding, "I've sensed the Tian Huo tribe's bloodline power from Fox Three and the others, and it's similar to the Qing Huo tribe's bloodline power. Combining this with the mention of Liu Mei, I think there's likely a connection between the two tribes."

Ti Hu nodded, "Master, you've received the Liu-surnamed fox tribe's kindness, and staying here to cultivate in seclusion is not only to avoid trouble, but also to provide some protection for the Qing Huo tribe."

Han Li didn't dwell on this topic, "This is just a temporary measure, we'll leave some benefits for them when we leave. For now, I plan to start my seclusion immediately, I've been feeling uneasy lately, as if some danger is approaching, and I need to increase my strength as soon as possible."

Master's intuition has always been quite accurate. It seems I also need to hurry up and close up for a period of time, not to mention improving my cultivation, at the very least to recover the spiritual energy I've lost before. Ti Hou's expression changed slightly upon hearing Han Li's words, and he immediately spoke up.

Han Li didn't say anything else, and immediately began setting up the area around the small courtyard. He took out several sets of restrictive flags and arranged them around the courtyard, then set up a few more layers of restrictions in the rooms where he and Ti Hou would be staying. Once he was certain that everything was secure, he stopped.

The two of them then began their closed-door meditation. Han Li entered the secret room in his quarters, sat down in the lotus position, and closed his eyes. He sat quietly for half a day, until his mind and spirit were completely calm, then took out a silver-colored pill furnace.

With a wave of his sleeve, a blue light flew out from his sleeve and swept across the floor, causing various spiritual materials to appear on the ground. These materials were all ingredients for the Heaven's Blue Pill.

Han Li spat out a mouthful of silver-colored flames, which landed on the pill furnace, and the furnace quickly heated up. He took out one of the materials and put it into the furnace, and began to refine the pill.

...

At the same time, in the great hall of the Qing Huo clan, Ye Luo, Qiu Long, and Ye Su Su were gathered together.

"Clan leader, do you really intend to let that human cultivator stay in our clan and live among us? I think this is unwise, his background is unclear, and he's a human cultivator, after all. Most of our clan members harbor deep resentment towards human cultivators, and if we let him stay in the city, it will inevitably lead to discontent among our people." Qiu Long frowned and spoke in a serious tone.

"Qiu Long, don't worry, Han Li is planning to stay in our clan to cultivate in seclusion, and he won't be going out and about. He's also asked us to keep his presence a secret, so we'll just announce that he's left Qing Huo City. This matter will only be known to the higher-ups, that's all." Ye Luo shook his head and said.

"But he's a human cultivator, after all, and his nature is difficult to predict. His cultivation is quite high, and leaving him in our clan is a hidden danger." Qiu Long still looked somewhat unconvinced.

"But he's helped us so much, and now he's just asking to stay and cultivate. If we don't agree, we'll be too petty." Ye Luo waved his hand and said.

"Qiu Long, I think Han Li and Ti Hou are not bad people, and Han Li's strength is quite formidable. Our Qing Huo clan has been facing many crises in recent years, and who knows, maybe one day we'll need to rely on his power." Ye Su Su also spoke up.

"Since the clan leader and the young master both think this way, then let's let him stay. But his identity is unclear, so let's arrange for some people to secretly monitor him, just in case." Qiu Long fell silent for a moment, then reluctantly agreed.

"Alright, then let's leave this matter to Qiu Long. But Han Li is skilled in the art of investigation, so when you arrange for people to monitor him, be careful not to let him discover it." Ye Luo thought for a moment, then nodded and said.

"Clan leader, don't worry." Qiu Long replied, then quickly left.

...

Three years later.

In Han Li's secret room, he made a hand seal and pointed at the silver-colored pill furnace. The furnace's lid emitted a flash of light, and it flew up into the air, hovering in mid-air.

Han Li made another hand seal, and five blue-colored pills flew out of the furnace and landed in a jade bottle. Each pill was the size of a dragon's eye, and was a deep blue color, like the sky. They emitted a faint, ethereal fragrance.

He had already filled dozens of jade bottles with pills, and each bottle was filled with a fragrant aroma that could be smelled through the walls.

Han Li looked at the jade bottles surrounding him, a satisfied smile on his face.

This Heaven's Blue Pill was the first time he had refined a pill of the Tai Yi level, and at first, it had been very difficult. But with the help of the True Speech Treasure Wheel's divine abilities and his previous experience in refining pills, his success rate had quickly improved.

Han Li waved his hand, and the pill furnace and the refined flames all disappeared. He then took out a jade bottle, poured out a Heaven's Blue Pill, and swallowed it. He circulated his cultivation method, and a dazzling golden light erupted from his body, illuminating the secret room and turning everything golden.

...

The years passed, and the closed-door meditation continued. Before he knew it, over a hundred years had passed.

In the Jin Yuan Immortal Palace, a magnificent golden palace, a middle-aged man dressed in a white silk robe sat on the golden dragon throne, his temples slightly gray, his eyes deep and profound, as if he had already seen through the ages. This was the master of the Jin Yuan Immortal Palace, Dong Fang Bai. At this moment, his eyes were deep and profound, slowly scanning the person standing below, although his face showed no anger, it still made his heart tremble, and he didn't dare to breathe.

The person below, not tall, but slender and handsome, was a young man dressed in colorful and elegant clothes, looking around fourteen or fifteen years old, but his eyes seemed like a dry and ancient well, exuding a faint aura.

"Tao Longzhang, I found this body for you to possess, not for you to enjoy idly, why have you not found even a hint of Han Li's whereabouts after over a hundred years?" Dongfang Bai slowly opened his mouth, asking.

"Palace Master, Han Li has been hiding his tracks since he escaped from Tian Song Guan, seemingly aware that we would search for him, and has not appeared in any major cities in the Xian domain, so it's likely that he is hiding in some remote and secluded place, making it difficult to find him." The young man replied, his expression tightening.

This young man was naturally Tao Ji, who had possessed another body to reincarnate, and had not fully merged with his new body, still getting used to his new voice, which was clear and bright, unlike his original middle-aged voice.

Seeing Dongfang Bai's face sink, Tao Ji became even more anxious and hurriedly explained:

"He has not appeared in any major cities, so it's impossible to use the long-distance transmission arrays, but it's clear that he has not left the Jin Yuan Xian domain, if you give me a little more time, I will definitely find him."

Dongfang Bai heard this and his eyes narrowed slightly, just about to speak, when his expression suddenly changed, and he said: "He's back..."

Not long after, someone outside the hall shouted, asking to enter.

When Dongfang Bai shouted "Enter!", the hall doors were slowly pushed open, and a thin, gray-haired old man and a black-robed, giant of a man with a ghostly head war knife, walked in side by side.

"Greetings, Palace Master." The two men stopped beside Tao Ji, bowed, and said.

"No need for formalities, what about the investigation?" Dongfang Bai waved his hand, asking.

The black-robed giant, Hei Dao, and the gray-haired old man, exchanged a glance, and the old man nodded, indicating for Hei Dao to speak first.

Hei Dao didn't hesitate, and began to speak:

"Reporting to the Palace Master, I was sent to investigate the situation at Tian Song Guan, and found that the battle scars left behind had been deliberately destroyed, and the residual law fluctuations in the void had been completely cleared."

"So, you also have nothing to show for it?" Dongfang Bai's eyebrows furrowed, asking.

"The battle scars were completely cleared, but the residual souls of the Xian Palace cultivators who died that day were not completely erased, I used ghostly secret techniques to collect some of the souls, and from their fragmented memories, I saw part of the battle scene. From that, I can tell that the person's cultivation was extremely deep, with over nine hundred Xuan Qi apertures opened, and his physical body was almost comparable to that of a Da Luo cultivator." Hei Dao shook his head.

"Over nine hundred Xuan Qi apertures... no wonder the two-yin-yang array, activated by ninety Golden Immortals, had no effect on him..." Tao Ji heard this, and his shoulders relaxed, muttering to himself.

"That day, Tao Longzhang, you personally fought against him, and didn't even notice that? You thought he could be easily defeated, how laughable!" Dongfang Bai's face finally showed some anger, asking.

"This... is my fault..." Tao Ji heard this, and was momentarily speechless.

At first, he had underestimated Han Li, and didn't pay much attention to his physical abilities, and when his spells didn't work, he was busy fleeing, and didn't notice much.

"This is not surprising, Tao Longzhang, the person's appearance and movements were all concealed, and in the chaos, it's hard to see clearly. I was able to see the truth through the souls of the dead because of my ghostly secret techniques." Hei Dao's expression remained unchanged.

"Is there anything else?" Dongfang Bai clearly didn't intend to pursue the matter further, asking.

"This person's body has at least three types of true spirit bloodlines, namely, the mountain giant ape, the true dragon, and the sky-traversing Kunpeng, which is why he has unmatched physical strength, and can control the yin-yang array, killing those who activated it. This kind of physical strength is comparable to that of a Da Luo cultivator." Hei Dao continued.

"If that's the case, I remember that when I was being pursued, I sensed a hint of Lei Peng's power from his body, which should also be a true spirit bloodline." Tao Ji suddenly remembered something, and hastily added.

"This is indeed strange, a human cultivator with four true spirit bloodlines, all of which are top-tier, how did he manage to avoid being counterattacked by the bloodlines?" Dongfang Bai's eyebrows furrowed, asking.

The gray-haired old man, who had been listening to Hei Dao's account, had his eyes spinning around, his hands holding a dozen or so jade slips, which he was flipping through, as if searching for something.

"This person has also cultivated time magic, and can condense it into a golden wheel, which can bind anyone it touches, making them feel like their thoughts are slowing down." Tao Ji added.

"True spirit bloodlines, Da Luo cultivation, supreme laws, and Tai Yi cultivation... can you imagine all of these being combined in one person? It's unbelievable! If such a person existed, they would have long since become famous in the Xian domain, so how could they be so low-key, and their tracks so difficult to find... are you sure you didn't make a mistake?" Dongfang Bai's expression was filled with doubt, asking.

Although it was possible that the person had made rapid progress in a short time, it was impossible for them to be so powerful, to combine these four attributes in one body.

"Palace Master..."

At this time, the gray-haired old man, who had been silent, suddenly spoke up.

"Lu Yun Longzhang, do you have any insights?" Dongfang Bai looked at him, asking.

"I don't have any insights, but I have found some interesting things in my travels, Palace Master might find them useful in understanding this person." The gray-haired old man bowed, and said.

He then handed over seven or eight jade slips, which he had selected, with both hands, respectfully presenting them.

Dongfang Bai's eyebrows furrowed slightly as he listened to the old man's words, and with a subtle movement of his fingers, a golden light shot out from his palm, retrieving the jade slips and examining them one by one.

As he looked through the slips, his eyebrows became increasingly furrowed, and his expression grew more and more solemn.

"Are you certain? Do the jade slips really say the same thing?" Dongfang Bai asked after a moment, his voice heavy with concern.

"Reporting to the Palace Master, I have sent out all the spies under my command over the past hundred years, and although they are not particularly skilled, they have some ability to gather information. We started our investigation in the Northern Cold Immortal Domain, and what we found was surprising. It seems that this Han Li was once within the sight of the Northern Cold Immortal Palace when they were eliminating the Candle Dragon Sect's Bai Li." Lü Yun's voice was sharp and clear as he spoke.

"My son, Tao Yu, was killed by him during that time." Tao Ji's face was filled with pain as he spoke.

"It's likely that he obtained his time law from the Candle Dragon Sect's 'True Word Transformation Wheel Scripture'." Dongfang Bai said calmly, not paying attention to Tao Ji.

"That's right, in the messages that followed, the name 'Lü Fei Yu' appeared several times, but each time the information was vague, as if he was intentionally hiding his tracks. Apart from that, there was also a name 'Lü Han' that appeared, and some of its characteristics match Han Li's, it's likely another one of his aliases." Lü Yun nodded and continued.

"How is this possible? If we look at the information presented in the jade slips, Han Li has spent so many years, and his footprints are already all over the Northern Cold, Black Mountain, Black Earth, Barbarian, and Golden Source Immortal Domains. And from a temporal perspective, it seems that he has a connection to many of the major events that occurred in those regions." Dongfang Bai's expression was one of doubt.

"According to our investigation, the Candle Dragon Sect's destruction, the emergence of the Ming Han Immortal Palace, and the reopening of the True Word Sect's ruins, all of these events seem to be connected to him, and there is evidence to prove that he was involved. Moreover, the death of the Gongshu family's Gongshu Tian brothers also seems to be related to him." Lü Yun spoke slowly and calmly.

Dongfang Bai's expression grew more and more solemn as he listened, and after a moment of contemplation, he asked:

"What happened after the True Word Sect's ruins were reopened? Where did he go? Why did he suddenly appear in our Golden Source Immortal Domain?"

"Palace Master, please take a look at this." Lü Yun said, taking out another jade slip and handing it to Dongfang Bai.

"This is not the report of the Feng Qing Shui Dao Zu's journey to the Gray Boundary?" Dongfang Bai took the slip and quickly examined it, his eyes filled with doubt.

"It seems that many people who appeared in the True Word Sect's ruins also appeared in the Gray Boundary. So, I think that Han Li likely went there, and then somehow ended up in the Demon Realm, before returning to the Immortal Realm, which led to the events that followed." Lü Yun said, glancing at Tao Ji.

As he finished speaking, the hall fell silent, and everyone present fell into deep thought.

Tao Ji's face turned pale, and then he seemed to think of something, and his forehead began to sweat, his expression one of fear.

"This person has a close relationship with the Reincarnation Hall, and is able to move freely between the different realms, and yet he has not been injured, and his cultivation has been rapidly increasing. What do you think?" Dongfang Bai leaned forward, his eyes scanning the room, his expression serious.

"Without mentioning his current strength, just his speed of progress is alarming, and it's clear that his identity is not simple. To be able to connect with the Reincarnation Hall and the Demon Clan, his background is likely not simple." Hei Dao spoke up after a long silence.

Han Li, if he were present, would likely be laughing and crying at the same time, for he had never imagined that these people would come to such a conclusion after their analysis.

"So, does this mean that I have provoked an existence that I am not capable of dealing with?" Tao Ji's face was filled with regret after a moment of thought.

"Palace Master..." Lü Yun bowed slightly, speaking slowly.

Hei Dao did not speak, but it was clear that he was waiting for Dongfang Bai to make a decision.

Dongfang Bai stood up from the Golden Dragon Throne, his eyes fixed on the ground, his mind racing.

After a long moment of contemplation, he stopped pacing and looked at the others, saying:

"No matter what his cultivation is, or what his background is, as long as it is related to that thing, I want you to pursue it to the end. Once you find his trail, do not act rashly, report back to me, and I will make the necessary arrangements."

"What if we encounter conflict?" Lü Yun asked.

"If we encounter conflict, do not retreat, you can first try not to kill him... naturally, try to capture him alive, and once you understand the situation, bring him back to the Nine Yuan Tower to be dealt with." Dongfang Bai said.

"Understood..." Lü Yun and the others replied, their voices hesitant.

"Remember, this matter is only to be discussed among you, if anyone leaks the information to the Heavenly Court's inspectors, do not blame me for not being able to protect you." Dongfang Bai's expression was stern, his voice cold.

"Yes!" This time, the three of them replied quickly, without hesitation.

After they left, Dongfang Bai paced back and forth in the hall, his mind filled with a growing sense of unease. He was also the first to encounter someone like Han Li, who was so peculiar that despite his incredible strength and background, he was still able to keep a low profile and hide his tracks so well.

Moreover, the snakes and grass, the hidden dangers, were all still unknown to him, and what was revealed to him was only a small part of Han Li's true nature.

A person like this, who had not been truly noticed by the Heavenly Court, was truly terrifying.

...

The Middle Earth Immortal Domain.

A vast, unknown void space, with floating blood-red clouds.

The sky was shrouded in a thick, bloody aura, and in the distance, one could see a series of black buildings with curved, twisted architecture, protruding from the blood-red clouds.

The blood clouds seemed to be layered, with the highest layer being the thickest.

At the bottom of the blood clouds, a white stone archway stood tall, with two large, blood-red characters carved into it: "Xian Prison".

A faint, clear sound echoed through the air, as a large, black temple stood nearby, its eaves curved like a flying bird.

On the temple's roof, a pair of cow-sized, eight-sided bells hung, swaying gently in the wind, producing a clear, ringing sound.

The sound of the bells caused a faint, golden glow to emanate from the void, dispelling some of the heavy, bloody aura.

At the temple's entrance, two black-armored warriors stood guard, their faces pale, their teeth sharp, and their eyes filled with bloodshot veins.

They were guarding the temple, whose entrance was locked, with a large, horizontal plaque hanging above the door, inscribed with the words "Cai Dian" in golden characters.

Inside the temple, two rows of crimson pillars stood tall, with iron plaques hanging from them, inscribed with characters that started with the words "Xing Qi".

For example, "Xing Qi Xing, Punish the Treacherous", "Xing Qi Mie Hun, Punish the Wicked", "Xing Qi Dian Tian Deng, Punish the Unlawful".

The temple's interior was dimly lit, with a large, dark-red fire burning in a brazier, casting flickering shadows on the walls.

At the far end of the temple, a large, black iron desk stood, with a tall, imposing figure standing behind it, its back to the door.

The figure's appearance was strange, with long arms and legs, and wide, flat hands and feet, resembling a fan.

One of its hands rested on the desk, while the other held a jade slip, its upper body glowing with a fiery red color, as if it had been burned.

On its head, a fiery red hair grew, with flames erupting from it from time to time.

Han Li would have recognized this person, as one of the five disciples who served beside Miro, the old ancestor, and also the one who had betrayed him, Qi Mozi.

"Ah, heat, heat, did you understand the efforts I made back then?" Qi Mozi sighed, putting down the jade slip, and murmuring to himself.

"It seems that your most beloved disciple is still him..." A voice echoed from a nearby brazier, where a flaming face rose up, commenting.

"Originally, I only hoped that he would stay away from this vortex, but in the end, he still got pulled in. Although I never had a good impression of him, he went to the True Words Gate this time, ultimately for my sake. Who would have thought that both of them would die in the Gray Boundary?" Qi Mozi sighed.

"What's the point of dying? It's not like you were able to retrieve the 'Great Five Elements Fantasy World Technique'! Dying without achieving anything, that's just foolish..." The flaming face in the brazier retorted.

"No! After investigating, I discovered that they didn't leave empty-handed. Chi Rong sent back a message before entering the Gray Boundary, mentioning a person... a very strange person. He might be the one who gained the most from the True Words Gate's exploration, and the complete 'Great Five Elements Fantasy World Technique' might be in his hands." Qi Mozi replied calmly.

"Who is that person? Where is he now?" The flaming face asked eagerly.

"That person's name is Han Li, and he has appeared in the Golden Source Immortal Domain in the past hundred years." Qi Mozi's eyes flickered, as he spoke.

"Ha ha... it seems that it's time for me to take action! Staying in this Xian Prison for too long, I've grown a bit bored. Let's make a deal, if I help you capture this person, you'll let me burn the rivers and boil the seas once? Don't worry, I've already chosen a place, a small, unremarkable location in the lower realm, it won't cause you any trouble." The flaming face rose up, hovering near the ceiling, and let out a strange, high-pitched laugh.

Qí Mò Zǐ ignored the Flame Person's words and thought for a moment before reaching into the fire pit and casually grabbing a handful of flames. The Flame Person was pulled out along with a ball of fire, and as it left the fire pit, its body began to take shape.

It transformed into a large, fiery humanoid with a wide body and limbs, and its appearance was identical to Qí Mò Zǐ's. As Qí Mò Zǐ's palm glowed with flames, the Flame Person's aura suddenly surged, matching Qí Mò Zǐ's own aura.

"I'll take care of this myself, you stay and guard the Xian Prison," Qí Mò Zǐ said, retracting his hand.

The Flame Person, who had been about to speak, was interrupted by Qí Mò Zǐ: "This is the Xian Prison, no one will dare to speak out of turn. I'll only bring one person with me, and we'll return quickly."

"You're not even bringing me, who are you bringing?" the Flame Person asked, puzzled.

"Someone he knows," Qí Mò Zǐ replied with a faint smile.

With that, he strode out of the temple, his aura suddenly concealed, and a burst of flames enveloped his body. He transformed into a ball of fire and flew off towards a distant, golden-colored space adjacent to the Blood Cloud.

...

Sixty years passed in the blink of an eye.

In the Qing Huo City, a quiet courtyard outside a secluded mansion had a clean, winding path made of bluestone. The morning sun cast dappled shadows on the path, creating a serene atmosphere.

A group of children, holding colorful paper windmills, ran back and forth on the path, laughing and playing. The sound of their laughter carried over the low wall and into the adjacent courtyard.

In the courtyard, a young girl in black clothes sat on a stone bench, listening to the children's laughter. She was none other than Tí Hún.

Since she had gained the ability to see into people's hearts, she had grown fond of listening to children's laughter, which was filled with pure and joyful emotions.

As she smiled to herself, she suddenly turned her head to look behind her.

Han Li, wearing a new, sky-blue robe, walked out of the main hall with a smile on his face.

"Master, you're out of seclusion so quickly, have you broken through?" Tí Hún asked, raising an eyebrow.

"It wasn't too difficult. With the various mystical techniques open to me, cultivating the Great Five Elements Illusory Realm Technique has become much easier. It only took a little over a hundred years, which is within my expectations," Han Li replied with a smile.

He didn't mention that he could have broken through to the Tai Yi late-stage realm if he had continued to cultivate.

"Congratulations, Master!" Tí Hún said, her face lighting up with joy.

"Thank you for guarding the law for me during this time... Has anything unusual happened in the Qing Huo tribe?" Han Li asked, continuing.

"Nothing out of the ordinary," Tí Hún replied. "The tribe's leader has fully recovered from his injuries, and the tribe's morale has greatly improved. It's as if they've gained a commander, and their spirits have been lifted. The Jin Ma Sect hasn't dared to cause any more trouble, and everything has calmed down. I was worried that Master's breakthrough would attract attention, but I didn't even notice anything."

"This breakthrough was relatively easy, and I didn't encounter any major obstacles. Besides, I was cultivating in the Flower Branch Cave Heaven, which was sealed with a powerful array to conceal my aura. That's why there was no commotion. However, when I break through to the Tai Yi late-stage realm, I won't be able to stay in the Flower Branch Cave Heaven, and the disturbance will be much greater. I'll need to find a new place to cultivate," Han Li explained.

Han Li and Tí Hún were chatting and laughing when, in the Qing Huo tribe's council hall, a heated discussion was underway.

"Tribe leader, when that person came to our tribe, I felt that he was suspicious. Now, with this news from the Xian Palace, he's probably the one who's been slaughtering ordinary people to cultivate dark magic. We can't let someone like that stay in our tribe!" Qiú Zhǎnglǎo said, his face filled with anxiety.

"Yes, Qiú Zhǎnglǎo is right. We can't trust the human tribe, and we must be cautious. What if he's indeed the one on the wanted list?" another elder said, nodding in agreement.

Several others in the room nodded in agreement, their faces grave with concern.

"I don't think there's been a misunderstanding," Yè Sùsù said, her face red with anger. "Han Li's aura is calm and composed, not at all like that of a dark cultivator. He wouldn't be the one on the wanted list. Besides, he saved me and my mother, so he can't be that kind of person."

The Qing Huo tribe's elders looked at each other, unsure of what to do. "If the people of the Immortal Palace were to investigate here, our Qing Huo tribe would be unable to bear the consequences, and even the entire Qing Huo City might be destroyed in an instant." Another elder sighed and said.

"Yes, it can't be like this..."

"It can't be that we would put the lives of the entire tribe at risk because of an outsider..."

"Tribe leader, think carefully!"

The great hall was filled with murmurs and sighs.

"Uncle and elder uncles, Han Li has done us a great favor, and we, the Qing Huo tribe, can't be ungrateful and repay kindness with enmity, can we?" Ye Su Su exclaimed loudly, seeing that most of the people were in agreement.

After her outburst, the great hall finally quieted down, and everyone's face showed a hint of guilt.

"I understand what you all mean," a gentle voice suddenly spoke up.

Everyone turned to look at the dignified woman sitting on the large chair, Ye Luo, the tribe leader of the Qing Huo tribe.

"No matter what the Immortal Palace's wanted poster says, Han Li has done us a great favor, and we can't repay kindness with enmity," Ye Luo said calmly.

"Mother, you are wise..." Ye Su Su nodded repeatedly.

"But, Han Li has been targeted by the Immortal Palace, and we can't continue to keep him in our tribe, or it would be a disaster for both us and him," Ye Luo said, interrupting Ye Su Su.

Ye Su Su's face fell upon hearing this.

Although she was grateful to Han Li for his help, she knew that her mother was right, and she had been unwilling to admit it earlier. Now that her mother had spoken, she could only remain silent.

The others nodded in agreement, and some even let out a sigh of relief.

"Su Su, Han Li was brought to our tribe by you, and this matter can only be discussed with him by you," Ye Luo said, looking at her daughter.

Ye Su Su opened her mouth to speak, but ultimately said nothing, nodding silently.

"This person's identity is unknown, and I don't want the young master to go and negotiate with him personally. I'll go and talk to him instead," Qi Long said, his face sinking.

"Qi Long, Han Li is our tribe's benefactor, and he has a connection with Su Su. Since the matter started with her, it should be ended by her," Ye Luo said, shaking her head.

"Qi Long, don't worry, I'll go and settle this matter," Ye Su Su said, bowing.

"This... fine, I'll go with you," Qi Long said, sighing.

About half an hour later, two figures appeared, and they landed outside the small courtyard. The children on the small path outside the courtyard called out, "Sister, sister," and gathered around.

Ye Su Su didn't have time to play with them today, so she let them go and play on their own, while she and Qi Long went to the small courtyard door and knocked.

The sound of the knock was followed by a gentle male voice: "Please come in."

Ye Su Su and Qi Long pushed open the door and saw Han Li sitting at the stone table in the courtyard, holding a cup of tea and smiling at them.

"Han Li..."

Ye Su Su greeted Han Li, but then remembered the purpose of her visit and felt a pang of guilt, lowering her head.

Qi Long stepped forward, placing himself in front of Ye Su Su, his eyes scanning the surroundings before landing on Han Li with a cautious expression.

"Since it's Ye Su Su and Qi Long who have come together, I suppose it's not a private matter, and it's related to me, right? Please speak freely," Han Li said, ignoring Qi Long's caution.

Qi Long's eyes sank, and he was about to speak when Ye Su Su raised her hand to stop him.

"Han Li, please forgive me for being abrupt. The matter is this..." Ye Su Su stepped forward and explained the situation with the Immortal Palace's wanted poster, but didn't mention the part about him leaving the Qing Huo City.

Han Li listened seriously, and after Ye Su Su finished, he couldn't help but laugh and say, "The Immortal Palace is being so secretive, and they're even fabricating a false charge against me?"

Ci Hun also smiled silently.

"I knew it, Han Li wouldn't be a cruel person," Ye Su Su said, her face relaxing into a smile.

Han Li's expression turned serious, and he said, "The Immortal Palace is being too cunning, and they're even using such a false charge against me."

Qiu Changlao saw Ye Susu's appearance and frowned, taking a step forward, wanting to say something.

In her view, their young master was not yet familiar with the world, and his trust in Han Qianbei, a human, was a bit excessive. Seeing that she couldn't speak, she had the intention to ask Han Li to leave.

"Ye Gongzhu, since the Xian Gong's wanted poster has already reached Jin Xi City, it's only a matter of time before they find the Qing Huo tribe's head. If I continue to stay in Qing Huo City, I'll only bring trouble to you. I'll pack up and leave immediately." Before Qiu Changlao could speak, Han Li said solemnly:

Qiu Changlao heard this and her expression changed slightly, the words she had prepared to say were swallowed back, and her previous intention to be firm was rendered useless. She didn't expect Han Li to say this.

"Han Qianbei, I believe you're not a bad person, but..." Ye Susu said, feeling guilty.

"You don't need to feel guilty, I've been a burden to the Qing Huo tribe for a long time, and it's time for me to leave. Ti Hu, go pack up, we'll leave soon." Han Li smiled and waved his hand, turning to Ti Hu.

Ti Hu responded and entered the main hall.

There wasn't much to pack up in the house, only the sealing array that Han Li had set up needed to be dismantled.

"Han Qianbei, the Qing Huo tribe is just a small tribe, we can't resist the Xian Gong, we can only trouble you, please forgive us. But rest assured, we won't reveal any information about your stay here." Ye Susu bowed to Han Li and said.

"No, after we leave, tomorrow morning, you'll go to Jin Xi City and find the Xian Gong's investigator, report to them that we stayed in the Qing Huo tribe. Make sure the time is accurate, don't leave out any details." Han Li said, astonishing Ye Susu.

"What...Han Qianbei, what are you saying?" Ye Susu asked, not believing her ears.

Qiu Changlao heard this and her expression changed again, thinking for a moment before understanding the situation. She looked at Han Li with a changed gaze.

"Ye Gongzhu, don't be surprised, my intention is to let you report my whereabouts to the Xian Gong." Han Li smiled and said.

"Are you saying, let us guide them to the wrong direction, lead them to chase after us?" Ye Susu asked, slightly stunned.

"After we leave Qing Huo City, we'll continue north to the Jin Yuan mountain range. You must tell them our direction, don't change it, or it will bring disaster to the Qing Huo tribe. Remember, remember." Han Li shook his head and said.

" Han Qianbei, the more you explain, the more I don't understand." Ye Susu said, puzzled.

"Shaozhu, whether we report or not, the Xian Gong will find out that Han Qianbei was in our Qing Huo City. Rather than waiting for them to come and threaten us, it's better to report it ourselves. Han Qianbei is doing this to protect our Qing Huo tribe." Qiu Changlao said, breaking her silence.

"If you report, the Xian Gong will definitely come to investigate, and only if they find some useful information will they not bother you. Han Qianbei nodded and said.

Ye Susu heard this and finally understood, not knowing what to say.

" Han Qianbei's benevolence is not only saving our tribe leader but also considering our tribe's well-being. I previously thought of you as a small-minded person, and I'm truly ashamed." Qiu Changlao stood up, bowed to Han Li, and said.

"Qiu Changlao, don't be like that, during my stay in Qing Huo City, I've enjoyed the peace and quiet, and I should be the one thanking you." Han Li raised his hand to help Qiu Changlao up and said.

As they spoke, Ti Hu returned to the courtyard, nodded to Han Li, and the two of them prepared to leave.

Seeing Han Li about to leave, Ye Susu felt a pang of reluctance and asked, "Han Qianbei, will we meet again in the future?"

"Han Mou is troubled, it's better not to meet again." Han Li said, his expression unchanged.

He and Ti Hu appeared in the courtyard, bid farewell, and their bodies were enveloped in a flash of light as they disappeared into the sky.

Ye Susu looked at the empty courtyard, feeling a sense of loss.

"Shaozhu, if fate allows it, we'll meet again." Qiu Changlao walked up to her and said softly.

Ye Susu heard this and nodded, a smile on her face.

...

The flash of light that tore through the sky headed north, but didn't fly far, stopping at a mountain peak a few thousand miles away.

Han Li and Ti Hu appeared from the flash of light, standing at the edge of a cliff, looking out into the distance.

"Master, isn't it a bit too close to stay here?" Ti Hu asked.

"It's not, after the Qing Huo tribe reports, the Xian Gong will definitely send people to investigate. If we're too far away, and the people they send don't arrive, they'll return and report that they didn't find our tracks, which will still bring trouble to the Qing Huo tribe." Han Li shook his head and said slowly.

"Master is indeed thoughtful." Ti Hu smiled.

Han Li smiled back and said, "Let's go, we'll continue north to the Jin Yuan mountain range." Han Li said, "The Qing Huo tribe may be weak, but their nature is simple and unassuming, and they do not contend with the world. They are completely different from the fox tribe I saw in the past..."

He suddenly stopped speaking, and a hint of nostalgia flashed in his eyes.

He didn't know how the little fox he had shared joys and sorrows with was doing in the Barbarian Realm.

"Master, since you have a favorable impression of the Qing Huo tribe, why not help them a bit? It would be good to let them not be controlled by the likes of the Jin Ma Sect," Qī Hún said, looking at Han Li.

"We currently have too many troubles to deal with, and we can't get too entangled with the Qing Huo tribe. Whatever we leave behind could bring them disaster, so we must be cautious. Let's wait until the future when we don't have so many restrictions, and then we can visit the Qing Huo tribe again," Han Li said with a sigh.

The two of them stayed there until noon, and Han Li took out a bi yu flying car, bringing Qī Hún with him as they flew into the sky and continued fleeing north.

...

Two days later.

Above the Qing Huo City, dozens of giant golden spirit ships were floating in the air, their hulls covered in spirit lights and symbols.

From a distance, one could see the flags waving on the decks, and thousands of armored warriors standing at attention, their spears and halberds like a forest.

Half of the Qing Huo City was shrouded in the shadow of the ships, and the fox tribe people looked up at the sky, trembling with fear.

At this moment, in a remote courtyard within the city, a group of people were standing.

One of them was a middle-aged man wearing a white silk robe, with a hint of gray in his temples, sitting at a stone table in the courtyard, gazing at the flowers in the garden with a faintly melancholic expression.

Behind him stood a young man in a colorful robe, and a large man in a black robe with a ghost head knife on his back, who were Táo Jī and Hei Dāo.

"Was the thief living in this courtyard before?" Táo Jī asked, his brow furrowed.

The several Qing Huo tribe people standing behind him nodded.

"Report to the Immortal Messenger, that person was living in this courtyard, and had been in seclusion for a long time. He suddenly left two days ago, and we didn't know why. We only received the news from the Jin Xī City yesterday, and immediately reported it," a woman in a tight-fitting green silk dress said, stepping forward and bowing slightly.

Yè Suǒ was standing beside Qīu Zhǎnglǎo, her lips pursed, and said nothing.

"Was it you who brought the thief back to your Qing Huo City?" Táo Jī asked, his eyes shifting to Yè Suǒ.

Yè Suǒ's heart skipped a beat when she heard this, but her expression didn't change much, and she replied calmly:

"It was me who brought him back to our tribe. After he saved me, I invited him to stay in our tribe as a token of gratitude. I didn't know he was... a wanted fugitive..."

"That person left two days ago, but you only reported it yesterday. Are you intentionally covering for him?" Táo Jī suddenly sneered.

"The Immortal Messenger is joking, right? This is a grave crime that our Qing Huo tribe cannot afford to bear. We really only received the news from the Jin Xī City yesterday, and immediately reported it, without any delay," Yè Luó said, hastily bowing.

"We beg the Immortal Messenger to see the truth!" Qīu Zhǎnglǎo and the others also bowed, their faces pale.

Yè Suǒ bowed as well, but in her heart, she was secretly resentful, thinking that these people from the Immortal Palace were hypocritical, and not as kind as Hán Lǐ, who seemed aloof and distant, but actually had a warm heart.

"Hmph! Whether or not we're joking, we'll know when Lǚ Zhǎnglǎo returns. If he doesn't find any evidence of the thief's trail heading north, then you're lying, and we'll punish you as accomplices," Táo Jī sneered.

Qīu Zhǎnglǎo and the others heard this, and their hearts tightened.

After all, not all the Qing Huo tribe people were as trusting of Hán Lǐ as Yè Suǒ. They were worried that if Hán Lǐ didn't follow the route he said he would, or didn't leave any evidence, then their Qing Huo tribe would be in danger.

"Why did you report him, when he had helped your Qing Huo tribe? Isn't that forgetting gratitude and repaying kindness with enmity?" Dōng Fāng Bái suddenly turned around, his eyes fixed on Yè Suǒ.

Yè Suǒ felt a surge of fear when he looked at her like that, and her heart tightened.

"R-reporting to the Immortal Messenger... I, we..." she stuttered, unable to say a complete sentence.

At this moment, a white jade hand stretched out from behind her, grasping her slightly chilly hand, and tightening it gently.

Yè Suǒ didn't need to look to know it was her mother, and her heart calmed down a bit.

"Reporting to the Immortal Messenger, that person indeed had a connection with our Qing Huo tribe, but he had been hiding in our tribe for over a hundred years. We had already repaid the kindness he showed us, and had unknowingly broken the laws of the Immortal Realm. We had already done enough. As for the past, we won't mention it, but now that we know he's a wanted fugitive, we Qing Huo tribe must report it. How could we not? That would be disloyal and unrighteous," Yè Suǒ said, her voice steady, repeating the words she had prepared earlier.

Dōng Fāng Bái listened, his face expressionless, his eyes still fixed on Yè Suǒ, trying to read her emotions.

Ye Susu was no longer flustered, calmly meeting Dongfang Bai's gaze as he looked at her.

In her mind, she recalled the words Han Li had said to her when they parted ways, and she couldn't help but feel a deep sense of admiration. It seemed that everything that was happening today was within his expectations, and she only needed to follow his plan.

Just then, a burst of air-piercing sound echoed through the air, and a streak of light shot down from the sky, plummeting towards the courtyard.

The light dissipated, revealing a tall, thin old man with gray hair and a long nose.

"Lu Changlao, how was it?" Dongfang Bai asked calmly, his eyes fixed on the old man.

"I reported to the Palace Master, in a mountain peak several thousand miles north of here, I found some residual aura. It seemed that Han Li had stopped there for a while and switched to a flying vehicle, a type of spiritual artifact. After that, I tracked him to a place near the Jin Yuan mountain range, where I found some faint residual aura, but it was very weak. I suspect he used some method to conceal his tracks. I marked the location and didn't pursue further," the old man said, bowing deeply.

"You did well," Dongfang Bai nodded, his expression unchanging.

"So, it seems they didn't lie... This person is indeed cunning!" Tao Ji muttered to himself, his eyes narrowing.

"Let's go," Dongfang Bai said, turning to look at Ye Susu once more before disappearing into thin air.

Tao Ji and the others quickly followed suit, vanishing from sight.

The courtyard was left empty, with only the members of the Qing Huo tribe staring at each other in silence.

Ye Susu's palms were sweating, and she glanced at her mother before looking up at the warships hovering above the city, her mind filled with doubts. What kind of person was this Han Li, to warrant such a massive response from the Heavenly Palace?

On the deck of one of the warships, Tao Ji and the others reappeared, seeing Dongfang Bai standing at the ship's rail, gazing down at the city below.

As they approached, he suddenly spoke up, his voice cold and detached.

"Destroy the entire tribe."

"What? They..." Tao Ji's expression changed, and he hastily spoke up, but then stopped himself.

The Qing Huo tribe's involvement with Han Li was of no concern to Dongfang Bai; what mattered was Han Li's whereabouts, and he couldn't let anyone else find out. Otherwise, it would attract unwanted attention, and he wouldn't be able to claim the credit for retrieving the Heavenly Bottle.

"Understood!" Hei Dao replied, his voice firm.

"Make sure to leave no traces behind. If the Heavenly Prison finds out, it will be a hassle," Dongfang Bai added.

"Yes," Hei Dao replied, turning to leave.

"Tao Changlao, Lu Changlao, bring the army and speed up the pursuit. We can't let Han Li get away," Dongfang Bai ordered.

"Yes," Lu Yun replied, his voice respectful.

Tao Ji hesitated for a moment before speaking up, "Yes."

He had a deep understanding of Han Li's terrifying strength, and if possible, he would have liked to bring more people to aid in the pursuit. However, with Dongfang Bai leading the charge, he knew he wouldn't be able to intervene. At the very least, he could witness the battle firsthand.

Dongfang Bai raised his hand, and a wave of white light surged forth, revealing a ten-meter-long white flying vessel adorned with intricate symbols and glowing with a soft, ethereal light. It was undoubtedly a high-grade spiritual artifact.

He stepped onto the vessel, and Tao Ji and the others followed closely behind.

As Lu Yun pointed out the direction, the vessel burst into a brilliant white light, shooting off into the distance and disappearing from view.

Meanwhile, the golden warships hovering above the city began to stir, their symbols glowing with an intense, golden light. The ships slowly descended, their attack arrays opening up, unleashing a devastating aura that engulfed the city.

The city was soon engulfed in flames, and the destruction was said to have been caused by a heavenly calamity.

Time passed, and half a year went by. In the northern part of the Jinyuan Immortal Realm, there was a river system called the Longjiang River, which converged with the Yujiang River and the Shuiyang River to form a vast lake called the Sanjiang Lake, spanning thousands of miles, beneath the Shubi Mountain.

Legend had it that the Sanjiang Lake was originally a place with hundreds of peaks and hills, all connected to the Shubi Mountain, which was a branch of the Jinyuan Mountain Range stretching northwards. A large immortal sect had once been built here.

However, in an unknown era, a great war broke out, and the immortal sect was completely destroyed. The majority of the peaks and hills were also destroyed in the battle, and the land sank into the ground.

After countless years of transformation, the Longjiang River and the other two rivers changed their courses, converging at this place, and burying the remaining peaks and hills under the water.

Although the immortal sect had perished, the Shubi Mountain still had many remnants of its ancient buildings, most of which were occupied by the "Shuli Sect", which was built less than a hundred thousand years ago. After renovation and reconstruction, it had a fresh new atmosphere.

However, after being washed away by the tides of time, the Shuli Sect only obtained some remnants of the ancient buildings, and the remaining treasures of the immortal sect were also mere remnants.

Rumor had it that beneath the Sanjiang Lake, there were still some remnants of the ancient immortal sect, some of which still had arrays protecting them, and inside, there might be some undiscovered treasures.

After the Shuli Sect was built, it naturally included the Sanjiang Lake within its sphere of influence. However, due to its lack of strength, it did not dare to seal it off for exclusive use, but instead, after development, it renovated some of the remaining immortal sects and built them into dragon palaces and water residences, which were rented out to cultivators.

High-level cultivators naturally looked down on the residual spiritual energy in the water residences, but many true immortal cultivators, especially those who cultivated water attribute techniques or water attribute laws, liked to reside here.

Relying on the rent, the Shuli Sect lived a comfortable life.

One day, a young cultivator with a tall stature and ordinary appearance came to the Shuli Sect's welcoming hall, seeking to rent a water residence for cultivation.

This young cultivator was none other than Han Li.

The attendant elder was a slightly plump, round-faced old man with kind eyebrows and eyes. Seeing the young cultivator's ordinary appearance and attire, he secretly looked down on him.

"Guest, you want to rent a water residence? That's just in time, as there are only three remaining water residences in the Sanjiang Lake. I'll bring the map for you to choose."

Han Li stretched out his hand to stop the elder, smiling and saying, "No hurry, I heard there are over a dozen unopened water residences in the Sanjiang Lake. I'd like to choose one from those."

In fact, the Sanjiang Lake did have many water residences, but after thousands of years of development, most of them had been opened up, and only a few were still sealed off by powerful immortals, which the Shuli Sect could not open.

However, the Shuli Sect did not spend a lot of money to hire experts to break the seals, but instead announced that anyone who paid the same price as the other water residences could obtain the qualification to enter the unopened water residences.

Whether or not they could actually enter, depended on the cultivator's abilities.

As for the treasures obtained from the water residences, as long as they did not affect the continued existence of the water residences, they would belong to the cultivator who rented them.

In the beginning, many cultivators came to rent the unopened water residences, but most of them failed, and those who did enter were often killed inside. Only a few lucky ones managed to open the water residences and return with treasures.

However, as time passed, most cultivators realized the truth and lost interest in coming to the Sanjiang Lake to take risks. The attendant elder had not seen someone like Han Li, who came to rent an unopened water residence, in a long time.

"Ah, good, good! Guest, please sit down and wait for a moment. Even if you want to rent an unopened water residence, you'll need to look at the map and choose one. I'll go get it."

The round-faced old man led Han Li to a side hall and sat him down, then turned to leave.

As he turned, he asked, "By the way, may I ask your name, guest?"

"Han Li," Han Li replied casually without looking up.

"Ah, Han Li, nice to meet you," the old man said with a nod, before turning to leave.

A moment later, the old man returned with a map of the Sanjiang Lake's underwater layout, and gave Han Li a rough explanation of the distribution of the water residences and their current rental status.

Han Li listened to the old man's explanation while his eyes scanned the map, searching for the perfect water residence.

"This should be an unopened water government, right?" After a moment, Han Li suddenly pointed to the bottom of the map and asked.

"Not bad, this is indeed the case. However, I must advise you, esteemed guest, that even if you're interested in this place, it's not worth trying. It's pointless." The round-faced old man glanced at Han Li, smiling and waving his hand.

"Why is that?" Han Li asked curiously.

"Please don't be offended, I'm only warning you out of kindness. I don't want to see you end up empty-handed. This water government has been attempted by many, including True Immortal and Golden Immortal cultivators, but none have succeeded. The grand entrance's restrictive spell alone has deterred everyone, and two unfortunate souls tried to force their way through, triggering the spell's counterattack. One was severely injured, and the other lost his life, unable to even escape with his Nascent Soul." The round-faced old man shook his head, sighing.

"I see, thank you for the warning. I have some knowledge of restrictive spells, so I'm confident I can at least protect myself. Don't worry, I've made up my mind to choose this place." Han Li revealed a thoughtful expression, then said.

"Very well... I'll wish you good luck, esteemed guest. Once you've paid the fee, I'll send someone to escort you." The round-faced old man saw Han Li's determination and stopped trying to dissuade him, speaking instead.

After Han Li paid the fee, the round-faced old man no longer bothered with him, sending a young girl in a red dress with a gentle complexion to escort him to the Three Rivers Lake.

The girl had a round face with two shallow dimples, giving her a perpetually smiling appearance. She seemed friendly and approachable.

Han Li and the girl flew down from the Comb Mountains, following a small path along the lake's edge towards the shore.

"I don't think you're a foolish person, esteemed guest, so why did you choose this Ghostly Concerns Government?" The girl asked, leading the way.

"Ghostly Concerns Government? What do you mean by that?" Han Li asked, furrowing his brow.

"It's because since this water government was opened, no one has been able to open it. Instead, many people have been injured or lost their lives trying. It's as if the government is 'ghostly' and 'concerning'! We've given it the nickname 'Ghostly Concerns Government' in private. However, this isn't its official name. If you're able to open it, you can give it a more auspicious name."

"Oh, 'Ghostly Concerns Government' is a good name. Let's just call it that." Han Li thought for a moment before saying.

"This... isn't me being talkative, but perhaps we should wait until you've actually opened the water government before naming it. Ah... esteemed guest, if you're willing to listen, I advise you not to force it when you're underwater. If you can't handle the restrictive spell, please return immediately and don't be stubborn." The girl seemed to remember something and warned Han Li.

"By the way, what's your name?" Han Li asked, smiling.

The girl was taken aback, seemingly surprised that someone had asked her name. After a moment, she replied, "My name is Hu Xiaocheng."

"Xiaocheng... a name that implies stability and contentment. It's a good name." Han Li nodded thoughtfully.

After speaking, he fell silent, his mind wandering to another name: Ye Susu.

Just last month, he had heard a rumor that the city of Qinghu had been suddenly attacked by a divine calamity, burning the entire city to ashes and killing everyone. Han Li had only thought about it briefly before realizing what had happened, which was why he had come to the Three Rivers Lake.

The girl saw Han Li's expression change and wisely stopped talking, leading him in silence.

When they arrived at the lake's edge, the gentle breeze blowing from the lake's surface made Hu Xiaocheng feel comfortable, and she couldn't help but stretch and take a deep breath.

Han Li gazed out at the sparkling lake, feeling a sense of freedom and joy that he hadn't experienced in a long time. The shadows in his heart had faded slightly.

"We're here, esteemed guest. If you head down from the water's edge, you'll reach the Ghostly Concerns Government after a few hundred feet." Hu Xiaocheng pointed, looking at Han Li.

"Thank you. Please wait here, I'll be back soon." Han Li nodded, then suddenly dove into the water without waiting for Hu Xiaocheng's response.

Hu Xiaocheng's eyes widened as she tried to speak, but Han Li was already gone. She let out a soft sigh and muttered to herself, "Why is he in such a hurry? I didn't even get to warn him about the dangers... Ah, well, I suppose it's not my place to worry about him. He seems like a big shot, but he's probably just a True Immortal cultivator at best. How could he possibly open the Ghostly Concerns Government? It's just a pipe dream!"

Just as Hu Xiaocheng was about to continue, the water's surface erupted in a massive wave, and a figure appeared beside her. When she opened her eyes to see Han Li standing there, she was taken aback, then smiled and said... “So you're back already? I thought you'd at least try for a few hours before giving up, but I suppose it's good that you didn't get stuck in the restrictions. You're quite lucky, indeed.”

“You little girl, you're not even that old, but your mind is full of twists and turns. Go call your elder and tell them I want to pay the fee for opening this place.”

Han Li raised his hand and patted Hu Xiao Cheng's forehead, smiling as he said this.

“What...you mean you've already...” Hu Xiao Cheng's eyes widened in shock.

“Go ahead,” Han Li said with a smile, not confirming or denying anything.

Hu Xiao Cheng shook her head and turned to leave, flying towards the mountain.

Not long after, the round-faced elder returned with Hu Xiao Cheng, looking just as surprised.

After he personally checked the place, he finally believed that Han Li had indeed broken through the restrictions, his face filled with a mix of shock and amazement.

After Han Li paid the fee in spirit stones, the round-faced elder smiled and said, “This place will belong to you, Han Li, for the next three years. As we previously said, all the treasures produced here, as long as they don't affect the continuation of the water mansion, will belong to you alone.”

“Thank you,” Han Li said with a bow.

“By the way, now that this place is open, I hope you'll give it a name,” the round-faced elder added.

Han Li glanced at Hu Xiao Cheng and said, “Let's call it Gui Chou Fu.”

The round-faced elder's expression changed for a moment, but he didn't say anything else and simply nodded.

As he prepared to leave, he said, “Xiao Cheng, you'll stay with Han Li and attend to him. If you have any needs, report back to the sect immediately.”

Hu Xiao Cheng quickly bowed and said, “Yes, sir.”

Han Li nodded slightly, not refusing the offer.

“Want to take a look at Gui Chou Fu?” Han Li asked Hu Xiao Cheng after the round-faced elder left.

Hu Xiao Cheng nodded eagerly.

Han Li raised his hand and grasped Hu Xiao Cheng's shoulder, and a layer of blue light enveloped them both. They leaped forward, plunging into the lake.

The surface of the lake still had sunlight, but as they descended, it grew darker.

Hu Xiao Cheng had guided people to other water mansions before, but she had never been this deep. She kept her eyes wide open, looking around.

The lake was filled with broken mountain peaks, some still intact, others shattered into small mounds. The peaks had clusters of light on them, which upon closer inspection, revealed various colored screens covering the water mansions. These water mansions were far away, looking like stars in the night sky.

Han Li brought Hu Xiao Cheng to the bottom of the lake, stopping in front of a small mountain.

Hu Xiao Cheng looked up and saw a screen of light on top of the mountain, with a narrow, winding courtyard hidden inside.

Han Li pulled her arm, and they burst through the screen of light, entering the courtyard.

As they landed on the square, Han Li dispelled the light covering them.

“Ancestor's Hall...this is actually the Ancestor's Hall of that sect?” Hu Xiao Cheng exclaimed, looking at the inscription on the gate.

“Otherwise, why do you think no one has been able to break through the restrictions here for so many years?” Han Li smiled.

“Then, sir, how did you break through the restrictions?” Hu Xiao Cheng asked without thinking.

“I've read a lot of books,” Han Li replied with a smile.

He had actually seen the protective array of the Ancestor's Hall in an ancient text, and it wasn't a mountain-protecting array, so breaking it wasn't too difficult.

“Sir, you've really hit the jackpot this time! The Ancestor's Hall usually has the sect's secret classics and heavy treasures...” Hu Xiao Cheng said, her eyes gleaming with envy.

Han Li walked up the stairs and pushed open the two black doors, saying casually, "Maybe there's a secret manual, but don't expect to find any powerful artifacts. The sect was destroyed, and even the mountain peak where the ancestral hall was located was sliced off by a sword. If there were any powerful artifacts, they would have been taken out to defend against the enemy, not left in the ancestral hall."

The girl looked a bit disappointed, but soon regained her enthusiasm, saying, "But having a secret manual is still great, a high-level cultivation technique is just as valuable. If we can get a few, it won't be a wasted trip."

The doors creaked open, revealing a narrow corridor, and Han Li and the girl walked in. The corridor was empty, with only a large bronze cauldron in the center, covered in green copper rust. Han Li noticed that the cauldron had ancient symbols etched onto it, and the water inside was half full, with a black lotus flower floating on the surface, emitting a strong water attribute law.

"Wow, such a strong water aura..." Hu Xiao Cheng exclaimed, his eyes wide with wonder.

Han Li smiled and said, "Looks like there's still some good stuff here."

He waved his hand, and the cauldron disappeared in a flash of silver light, absorbed into the flower branch cave.

The corridor led to a large hall, which seemed to be a meeting hall, with only a few old and worn-out cushions inside. Han Li and the girl walked through the hall, and behind it was a small courtyard, paved with white stones, looking like a martial arts training ground.

At the end of the courtyard was the most important building in the ancestral hall, a large temple with a red plaque on the door, inscribed with the words "Source Far and Wide".

Inside the temple, Han Li saw a high nine-layer altar, with many wooden plaques on it, each with a golden pattern, and a list of names of the sect's leaders and elders. Han Li counted them and found that there were over 80 people.

At the bottom of the altar, there were two thick books, bound in gold and jade, with a golden glow surrounding them. Han Li opened them and found that they were not cultivation techniques, but rather a record of the sect's history and a genealogy of the sect's members.

"Originally, this sect was called Qing Jing Sect, and it has been passed down for so long, yet it still suffered from destruction..." Hu Xiao Cheng sighed.

Han Li thought of the Zhen Yan Sect and the Ming Han Xian Fu, and how they had also suffered from unexpected disasters.

He looked up at the highest layer of the altar and saw a plaque with the name "Chang Qing Liu" on it, which seemed unusual. He reached out and grabbed the plaque, and a small jade slip flew out from it.

Han Li took the jade slip and examined it, then put it back in its original place. "It's the sect's secret manual, called 'The Formless Record'."

Hu Xiao Cheng's eyes widened in surprise, and he asked, "Is that the sect's secret manual?"

Han Li nodded and said, "Yes, it's a cultivation technique for water attribute law. Although it's not very useful to me, my clone in the Black Wind Sea might be able to use it."

The two of them searched the ancestral hall again, but found nothing else. Han Li wasn't disappointed, as the jade slip and the bronze cauldron were already worth more than the spirit stones he had paid.

As they sat on the doorstep of the ancestral hall, Han Li asked Hu Xiao Cheng, "When the elder asked you to follow me, did he also ask you to report my movements?"

Hu Xiao Cheng looked surprised, then nodded, "How did you know?"

Han Li smiled and said, "I just guessed. It's not just you, all the guests who come to rent the ancestral hall are assigned someone to follow them, right?"

Hu Xiao Cheng nodded, "Yes, that's right. But usually, it's a beautiful female cultivator who is assigned to follow them. This time, I don't know why, but the elder assigned me to follow you." Han Li said, "That elder must have looked down on me and didn't believe I could break through the Water Manor's seal, that's why he sent you here."

Hu Xiaocheng's eyes widened in realization. "I see..."

Han Li's expression turned serious. "Remember, others can look down on you, even despise you, but you yourself must not look down on yourself. I've observed that your cultivation talent is not bad, but you're currently stuck at the Nascent Soul stage, likely due to a lack of resources."

Hu Xiaocheng didn't understand why Han Li mentioned this and nodded vaguely.

Han Li flipped his palm, producing a small, crimson ceramic bottle, which he handed to her. "I don't have any low-grade pills that would be suitable for you. The pills in this bottle can only be used when you reach the Congealing Period or later. You can keep it for now and take it when you've made progress in your cultivation."

Hu Xiaocheng was taken aback, hesitating to take the bottle.

Han Li saw her reaction and placed the bottle in her hand, then raised his finger to tap her forehead.

Hu Xiaocheng felt a jolt in her mind, and her body swayed slightly before stabilizing. When she looked up, she saw that Han Li's hand had already withdrawn.

She searched her mind, finding that many characters had appeared, which were none other than the 'Formless Record' cultivation technique.

"Respected guest, you..." Hu Xiaocheng's body shook, and she stood up, unable to speak.

Han Li's expression turned solemn, and he stood up from the doorway. "It won't be long before the Three Rivers Lake is turned upside down."

Hu Xiaocheng changed her tone, asking, "Are you planning to do something big, having rented this Water Manor?"

Han Li replied calmly, "It's not a big deal, just waiting for someone."

Hu Xiaocheng asked, "Is it a friend?"

Han Li's expression turned cold. "An enemy."

Hu Xiaocheng's brow furrowed. "What can I do to help you?"

Han Li shook his head. "I've already removed the mark left on you by the Comb Ridge Sect. You should leave the Comb Ridge Mountain immediately and go as far as you can. Don't come back here again."

Hu Xiaocheng looked puzzled, asking, "Why are you treating me so kindly?"

Han Li looked at her, sighed, and said, "Consider it a compensation for the guilt I feel towards another girl..."

Hu Xiaocheng saw Han Li's somber expression and felt a pang of sadness.

She thought for a moment before bowing deeply. "If I make progress in my cultivation, I'll come back to repay your kindness."

Han Li smiled. "Go."

Hu Xiaocheng bowed again before flying away.

After her figure disappeared, a ripple appeared beside Han Li, and the ghostly figure of Qiuhun emerged.

"Master, aren't you afraid she'll go back to the Comb Ridge Mountain and report you to get a reward?" Qiuhun asked anxiously.

Han Li chuckled. "When have I ever misjudged someone?"

Qiuhun smiled, saying nothing.

"Even if she truly disappoints me, it's not a big deal. I'm not hiding anything, and I'm using my true name, hoping the people from the Immortal Palace will know I'm here."

Qiuhun nodded. "This time, they'll definitely come and not leave."

Han Li patted his hands. "Since we've decided to welcome guests, we should prepare properly and not be rude."

He turned and entered the Ancestral Hall.

Half a month later.

On the Comb Ridge Mountain, a ten-meter-long white flying shuttle hovered in the air, radiating a brilliant light.

Four people stood on the shuttle: a middle-aged man in white robes, followed by an old man with a long nose, a young man in colorful robes, and a black-robed giant.

They were Dongfang Bai and his group.

Below them, on the mountain peak, stood a young man in a green, gauzy robe and a round-faced old man. The young man was the current master of the Comb Ridge Sect, while the old man was the same steward who had received Han Li.

The two men wore slightly obsequious smiles as they gazed up at the four people.

Dongfang Bai looked down at them and asked, "Besides reporting to the Immortal Palace, have you leaked any information about the person staying here?"

The steward and the young master exchanged a glance before responding.

Here is the translation of the chapter:

"Reporting to the heavenly messenger, after Elder Lu reported to me, I felt that the matter was extremely important, so I immediately sealed off the information. Now, only the two of us know about it within the entire sect, and to prevent any unexpected surprises, we have also kept it hidden from the other cultivators who are currently residing in the lake's water palace."

The young master of the Suo Liu Sect, a handsome and elegant youth, quickly spoke up.

"This is good, we won't have to waste our energy destroying the entire sect..." Dongfang Bai nodded, seemingly lost in thought.

The young master and the old man with a round face exchanged a glance, both of them furrowing their brows in suspicion, their eyes filled with doubt.

However, before they could think clearly, they suddenly found themselves frozen in place, unable to move even a single limb.

The only thing they could move was their eyeballs, which they used to look at each other in shock and horror. They discovered that a layer of green, slimy moss had grown on their bodies, and on top of the moss, a large, beautiful flower had bloomed.

"No..."

As the young master let out a pained cry, the flower burst into bloom, its color turning a deep red, and its surface even exuding a few drops of crystal clear dew. It looked incredibly beautiful and alluring.

In contrast, the two men wrapped in the moss seemed to have had their life force drained away, their skin dry and withered, like two ugly, mummified corpses.

Dongfang Bai glanced at them expressionlessly, then turned to ask, "Elder Lu, is that person's aura still present here?"

"It is still present," the old man, who looked like a rat spirit, replied, wrinkling his nose.

"As long as he is still here, that's good," Dongfang Bai said with a smile.

Tao Ji's gaze fell on the vast expanse of water in the distance, his eyes clouding over with uncertainty. However, he couldn't shake off the feeling of unease in his heart.

"Tao Ji, do you have something to say?" Dongfang Bai asked, noticing the change in Tao Ji's expression.

"Palace Master, considering Han Li's past behavior, he is not someone who would be careless. This time, he left behind such an obvious trail, allowing us to track him down. I think there might be something fishy going on," Tao Ji said.

"Is Tao Elder afraid because of what happened last time? How could he possibly escape with the Palace Master here?" the black-robed man sneered.

Dongfang Bai, however, waved his hand and said, "Tao Elder's words make sense, let's be cautious."

Tao Ji quickly bowed in response.

With a flick of his wrist, Dongfang Bai sent a white flying dart shooting out, which instantly arrived above the lake.

"It's that area of the lake," Lu Yun pointed out.

"Palace Master, please wait, let me split open the lake and force him to show himself," the black-robed man said, drawing his ghost-headed knife.

"There's no need, we're guests, we can't just start fighting before we've even entered the door," Dongfang Bai said, smiling faintly.

He raised his finger and pointed at the air, and a green light shot out, disappearing into the lake.

The lake's surface, which had been calm, suddenly erupted into a massive whirlpool, and a giant spiral-shaped hole appeared, leading down to the bottom of the lake where the Gui Qiu water palace was located.

At the same time, a green spiritual domain enveloped the area, trapping the turbulent water within, like a cage. The waves were confined to within the domain, and the outside remained calm and peaceful.

The green light, like a dragon bursting into the sea, crashed into the white light screen, causing a deafening explosion, and the screen shattered. The small hill where the Qing Jing Sect's ancestral temple was located was revealed.

At that moment, Han Li was sitting with Qi Hun in the courtyard, holding a wine cup that had been shaken slightly. However, the amber-colored wine inside didn't spill a drop.

"The array is quite impressive, it seems your previous guess was correct, and it's indeed the Palace Master who has arrived. However, with Taixu realm peak cultivation, he dares to be so arrogant?" Han Li said with a smile, glancing up at the sky.

He then poured out the wine in three gulps, put down the cup, and stood up from the stone stool.

At that moment, the surrounding lake water seemed to be trapped by a strange power, and a whirlpool appeared above the small hill, spinning around without falling.

Dongfang Bai and the others descended from the air, hovering above the courtyard, looking down at Han Li and Qi Hun.

"Brother Han, I've heard a lot about you, and it's an honor to finally meet you," Dongfang Bai said, smiling faintly as he looked Han Li up and down, seemingly unimpressed. "Tsk, tsk, when did I, Han Li, become so famous that the master of the Jin Yuan Xian Domain would chase after me for so long? It's truly an honor." Han Li said with a hint of sarcasm.

"How dare you, a mere thief, speak to the Eastern Palace Master in such a manner?" Black Knife, who was standing nearby, grew enraged.

"What's wrong? Did I say something incorrect? Then tell me, how should I speak to a madman like you who slaughters innocent people without reason?" Han Li replied coldly, glancing at Black Knife with a hint of disdain.

Black Knife's eyes flashed with anger, and he was about to charge forward, but Eastern White's warning glance stayed him.

Lü Yun, who was standing nearby, narrowed his eyes as he watched Han Li, a thoughtful expression on his face.

Han Li's gaze fell on the handsome young man standing beside him, and he said with a hint of surprise, "Tao Changlao, I didn't expect to see you again so soon. But since you managed to escape with your life, you should be grateful..."

Tao Changlao noticed Han Li's gaze and swallowed hard, feeling a dryness in his mouth. His eyes flashed with a fierce light, but he didn't say anything.

"Brother Han, considering our identities and positions, why should we care about the lives of mere ants? Let's get to the point. If you're willing to hand over that item, I can consider letting you off the hook, and even recommend you to join the Jiuyuan Observatory. What do you say?" Eastern White chuckled and revealed his true intentions.

As soon as Han Li heard the words "Jiuyuan Observatory", he immediately understood what Eastern White was referring to.

His pupils constricted slightly, and he didn't bother to hide the fact that he possessed the Palm of Heaven. After all, he had no intention of letting any of these people go, lest they spread the news and cause him endless trouble.

Previously, Han Li had been cautious due to various concerns and didn't want to directly confront the Xian Palace forces. However, that didn't mean he was afraid. Now that the other party had repeatedly crossed his bottom line and was still pursuing him, he decided it was time to settle the score.

"I advise you, Brother, not to go against the Heavenly Court. After all, it's better to drink the wine of respect than the wine of punishment. If you're willing to cooperate, you can rest assured and focus on your cultivation. With your talent, as long as you have sufficient resources, reaching the Great Luo Realm is only a matter of time..." Eastern White said, seeing Han Li's thoughtful expression.

"It seems that you not only like to chase after people's behinds, but also talk nonsense like a fart. I don't know what you want, and I don't care. Besides, I like wine, but I won't drink any that's offered by you," Han Li interrupted Eastern White's words, his tone lazy and dismissive.

"Ah, I see that Brother Han is determined to go against the Heavenly Court. What a pity... Since you don't like the wine of respect, I'll have to offer you a cup of punishment instead," Eastern White sighed, a hint of regret in his voice.

As soon as he finished speaking, Black Knife, who had been holding back his anger, suddenly charged forward, his body leaving a trail of residual images. His Ghost Headed Great Knife flashed out of its scabbard, and a dark, blood-red aura erupted from the blade.

A massive, dark cloud descended from the sky, and a giant, ghostly creature emerged from the shadows. Its eyes glowed with an otherworldly energy as it charged towards Han Li and his companion.

Han Li, however, didn't even flinch, his gaze fixed on the creature with a hint of amusement.

"Since I awoke, I've been feeling a bit empty inside. I didn't expect to find such a high-level ghost cultivator in the Xian Palace. This is indeed... a feast," the creature said, its voice dripping with excitement.

"Don't eat too quickly, and be mindful of your digestion," Han Li said with a chuckle.

The creature nodded, its body exploding with energy as it charged towards the dark cloud. It vanished into the shadows, leaving behind an eerie silence.

The dark cloud dissipated, and the ghostly creature reappeared, its body now transformed into a massive, ape-like creature with three glowing red eyes. Its skin was covered in black, razor-sharp fur, and its presence seemed to draw the very air out of the atmosphere.

Eastern White's eyes widened in shock as he realized what he was looking at. "This is... a Xing Beast!"

Black Knife's face turned pale, and he knew he was in trouble. He quickly tried to retract his knife, but it was too late. The Xing Beast had already sensed his presence and was now charging towards him.

The beast's eyes glowed with an intense, blood-red light as it unleashed a massive, blood-colored chain that bound the ghostly creatures, rendering them immobile.

Xing Shou was originally the bane of all evil spirits and ghosts in the world, let alone the current Qi Hun, who had undergone a series of trials and tribulations, and was now even more formidable.

The blood-red chain connected to his brow was like a giant steel whip, sweeping through the air, unstoppable and unrelenting. The ghostly creatures, no matter how ferocious they appeared, were pierced through the chest like rotten wood, strung together like a skewer of sugar gourds.

"Zzzip!"

A burst of electricity crackled through the air, and a series of blood-red electric arcs erupted from the chain, instantly shattering the thousands of ghostly creatures in the dark clouds, turning them into wisps of black smoke.

The next moment, Xing Shou's nose twitched, and a burst of xiaolongbao-like energy shot out, engulfing the black smoke, absorbing it all into his belly.

Hei Dao was shocked, his hand still holding the knife, but the blood-red chain caught up to him, wrapping around him like a snake.

The blood-red electric arcs crackled wildly, striking the knife body with a series of sharp, piercing sounds.

Hei Dao felt like he was being struck by lightning, his soul like it was being fried in a hot oil pan, his mouth emitting a series of pained screams.

Just then, a dark green light burst forth on his arm, and a series of clear, green vines sprouted out, spreading towards his hand, wrapping around the knife body.

The vines seemed to possess a strange, mystical power, and when struck by the blood-red electric arcs, they rapidly recovered, unaffected, and pierced the gaps between the chain and the knife body, slowly prying them apart.

Hei Dao felt the pressure suddenly ease, and he quickly regained his composure, sheathing the knife, the dark clouds around him dissipating by more than half.

"Thanks, Palace Master..."

Although he had suffered greatly, Hei Dao was already grateful to have escaped with his life, and he hastily thanked Dongfang Bai, who had come to his aid.

But before he could finish speaking, he felt a sudden gust of wind behind him, and his instincts told him something was wrong.

Lü Yun, who was not far away, was the first to notice, as Han Li's figure suddenly disappeared from his original position, only to reappear behind Hei Dao, his eyes wide with fear.

Han Li flashed behind Hei Dao, his hand shooting out to grab his neck, before Hei Dao could react.

Hei Dao's eyes widened, his mouth opening in a silent scream.

Han Li didn't give him a chance to speak, his eyes fixed on Dongfang Bai, his fingers tightening, "Crack"! Hei Dao's neck snapped.

Dongfang Bai was enraged by this action, his hand shooting out to slap Han Li.

The air was filled with the sound of electricity, as the spiritual energy of the heavens and earth was drawn towards Dongfang Bai, condensing into a multitude of wooden stakes, each as thick as a child's arm, shooting towards Han Li.

However, Han Li had already released his hand, his body glowing with a soft, white light, as he dodged the attack with ease, his eyes fixed on Dongfang Bai.

Hei Dao's body fell to the ground, his head striking the ground with a loud thud, his soul still trapped inside, as the Xing Shou's ghostly claws snatched him up, and tossed him into the blood-filled cauldron.

Tao Ji, who had witnessed the entire scene, was terrified, his fear growing exponentially, as he stumbled backwards, falling towards the sea below.

Lü Yun, on the other hand, flew towards Dongfang Bai, his eyes fixed intently on Han Li, his body surrounded by a gray, spiritual aura, as he prepared to defend against another sudden attack.

The loss of a major general had left Dongfang Bai reeling, both shocked and enraged.

He was shocked by Han Li's cultivation, and enraged by the affront to his dignity.

His five fingers curled into a claw, as he grasped the air in front of him, and the wooden stakes that had been scattered around him began to gather, forming a massive, wooden dragon, hundreds of feet long, which lunged towards Han Li, its jaws open wide.

"Wooden stakes? You think you can use them to kill me? This is nothing but a child's plaything!"

Han Li sneered, his fist clenched, as he prepared to strike.

The air was filled with the sound of crackling energy, as the power of the stars and the fist intent gathered in his palm.

"Boom!"

Han Li's fist shot out, the power of the stars exploding from his palm, as a blast of white light illuminated the air.

The wooden dragon struck the light, its body shattering, as it disintegrated into a cloud of dust.

The dust cloud obscured half the sky, but Dongfang Bai's figure suddenly emerged from the midst of it, his eyes fixed intently on Han Li.

He pointed a single finger at Han Li, as a small, green light flashed from his fingertip, forming a wooden stake, which shot towards Han Li's heart.

The wooden stake was surrounded by a faint, dragon-like aura, as it shot out, accompanied by a fierce gust of wind, which distorted the air around it. Han Li gazed at this scene without avoiding it, simply raising his hand to wave in the air.

A ripple of waves spread out from his side, and a green bamboo sword flashed out, its tip pointing directly at the Coiled Dragon Wooden Spear.

The two of them collided like the tip of a needle and a grain of rice, fiercely striking each other.

It could be seen that the green bamboo sword's talisman flashed, and a golden electric light suddenly burst out, "Zi la" exploding loudly!

Wood fears thunder, and the Coiled Dragon Wooden Spear was struck by this golden thunder, instantly erupting with a burst of black smoke, and shattering open.

"Your Excellency, as the master of a palace, is it that you only have this much ability? It's truly disappointing," Han Li said with a chuckle.

Dongfang Bai heard this and his face's enraged expression suddenly disappeared, instead becoming calm.

His figure leaped up, slowly descending onto the large square in front of the Ancestor's Hall.

"Enough, since I appeared, you've been speaking to provoke me, wasn't it just to lure me onto this square, to enter your pre-set formation. Although it's not as you calculated, entering in a state of fury, I've still entered, so let's see, what can you do to me?" Dongfang Bai looked at Han Li, smiling faintly, with a hint of arrogance.

"Ha ha... Dongfang Palace Master, Han Li didn't think you were unable to withstand ridicule, entering in a state of fury, but it's that you're arrogant and overconfident, entering in a state of self-importance. Since you've come, don't leave," Han Li said loudly.

He spoke, and his hands pinched a seal, the entire small mountain where the Ancestor's Hall was located shook, the surrounding lake's bottom rumbling, four small mountain-like statues of the Angry-Eyed Golden Mighty Ones slowly rose from the ground, each holding a treasure umbrella, a divine sword, a treasure mirror, and a fierce python.

The Angry-Eyed Golden Mighty Ones guarded the four directions, the one holding the umbrella was entirely purple, the treasure umbrella on his hand radiating seven-colored light, flying high into the air, and then having countless rays of light spread out, like a treasure-top light screen, covering the entire small mountain, the area covered by the light, the heaven and earth's primal energy flow suddenly stopped, all techniques and divine abilities were forbidden.

Dongfang Bai was in the midst of this, and suddenly felt the surrounding heaven and earth's spiritual energy tighten, unable to be called upon.

However, his expression didn't change, not being affected in the slightest, as a cultivator of the Wood attribute's laws, his body was like a miniature heaven and earth, his divine spirit power circulating endlessly, originally stronger than other cultivators, and not fearing this kind of method.

But just as he was about to speak, his gaze suddenly flashed, catching a glimpse of a light sphere flying towards him, his heart tightening, and he swiftly dodged to the side, moving over a hundred meters.

When he turned back, he saw that the area where the light sphere had shone was suddenly shattered, a black hole three meters in diameter appearing, the ground inside broken into powder.

He turned his gaze, and saw that it was the person holding the mirror, the treasure mirror's light radiating, like the sun hanging in the air, the light it reflected, causing the space to distort violently.

If he had been struck, his body as a deity would have been broken, his limbs severed.

Before he could think clearly, the person holding the sword and the person holding the python simultaneously attacked.

The treasure sword's talisman shone brightly, clusters of five-colored flames flying out, like a meteor shower, falling down, the python's scales bursting, its mouth spewing out blue lightning and purple electricity, like a waterfall pouring down.

If the treasure mirror's white light still had a chance to dodge, this fire rain and electric waterfall left no room for evasion.

"Such a petty trick, you dare to show off?" Dongfang Bai coldly snorted.

His hands rose, his mouth chanting unceasingly, taking on a posture of supporting the heavens.

His body burst with green light, like a volcano erupting, a giant, ancient tree's illusory image appearing, its canopy like a cover, shielding the fire rain and electric waterfall.

Although it was an illusion, the ancient tree's canopy, when struck by the flames and lightning, actually ignited, burning fiercely.

But as it burned, the tree's canopy seemed to be reborn, its speed seemingly faster than the flames.

Even the treasure mirror's white light couldn't break through the tree's canopy defense.

"Han fellow cultivator, is this your ultimate technique? If so, I'm truly disappointed," Dongfang Bai sneered.

His words had just fallen when he suddenly felt a dizziness, his brow seeming to have a crystal light flash, before he could see clearly, the crystal light had transformed into a small sword, piercing his brow, entering his brain.

Dongfang Bai felt a sharp pain in his brain, his sea of consciousness like a raging storm, his body shuddering violently, the green light bursting out from his back also shaking, and then stopping.

The giant green light tree's image also dissipated, the fire rain and electric waterfall pouring down, instantly engulfing him.

"Rumble rumble..."

A series of thunderous sounds echoed, the purple lightning and five-colored flames intersecting, illuminating the entire Ancestor's Hall square.

"Palace Master..." Tao Ji, who was working together with Lü Yun and the wailing soul-turned Executioner, saw this and couldn't help but cry out in shock.

"Tao Elder, do what you should do, the Palace Master's situation doesn't need you to worry about," Lü Yun said, his hands waving in the air, eighteen red iron flags flying around, surrounding the wailing soul.

Lü Yun's words had barely fallen when the flames and lightning on the square had gradually dissipated, and Dongfang Bai's figure reappeared.

However, at this moment, he no longer had the calm and collected demeanor of before. His entire body had turned into a charred, carbon-like state, with rolling black smoke emanating from his body. His chest area still had a flickering green glow, and thin, green lines spread out from it, like blood vessels, covering his entire body.

Wherever the green lines passed, a strong life force spread out, reviving his seemingly lifeless body, and slowly restoring it.

Just then, Han Li's figure flashed by, his palm and fingers forming a knife-like shape as he chopped horizontally.

Dongfang Bai's charred head immediately fell to the ground, and with a kick from Han Li, it turned into a pile of carbon dust.

At the same time, a green bamboo sword appeared, piercing through the charred remains of Dongfang Bai's chest, releasing a golden electric current that instantly shattered the green glow, dispersing it like fireflies.

Han Li stood holding his sword, his face expressionless, but his eyebrows furrowed in puzzlement as he looked towards the nearby stone floor.

A small, weak wild grass grew out of the crack in the stone, swaying gently in the wind. Suddenly, a green light burst forth, and the grass rapidly grew, its leaves spreading out, transforming into a human figure in the blink of an eye.

The figure was Dongfang Bai.

"The Wood Element's laws are quite interesting..." Han Li's eyes flickered, and he smiled.

"Enough of these petty tricks, Han Li. It's time to conclude this." Dongfang Bai said coldly.

As soon as he finished speaking, he lightly rubbed his palms together, and the blue spirit domain surrounding him burst into a brilliant light. In the void within, countless blue light points appeared, and a powerful Wood Element law force emanated from them, causing Han Li's heart to tremble.

Han Li saw this and his pupils constricted, as he instinctively retreated backwards.

"Forest... Thousand... Images!" Dongfang Bai shouted, his voice somewhat unsteady.

Suddenly, thick, sturdy branches and vines emerged from the blue light screen, stretching out into the void, and massive trees burst forth, instantly overturning the entire Qingjing Sect's ancestral hall.

This area, which was once at the bottom of a lake, was transformed into a lush forest landscape in an instant.

The four angry-looking golden giants guarding the small hill were entwined by the rapidly growing vines, covered in a layer of blue moss, and quickly buried, losing contact with Han Li.

Even the Xīnghuǒ, which had transformed into a demon, was entangled by the vines with golden patterns, and was unable to move.

Han Li, who had retreated several hundred meters, was still covered in the blue moss, and his entire body seemed to have transformed into a plant, rooted to the ground, unable to move.

"I've seen many spirit domains, but this is truly breathtaking." Han Li, trapped, glanced at Xīnghuǒ, seeing that she was unharmed but unable to move, and his heart relaxed slightly.

"If the Sect Master hadn't devoted himself to cultivating his spirit domain, he would have surpassed the Taiyi Peak realm by now. But who would dare to underestimate him as just a Taiyi Peak cultivator?" Lü Yun said with a smile.

Tao Ji's expression changed, and he felt even more reverence for Dongfang Bai.

"Whether you hand over the item or not, it makes no difference." Dongfang Bai walked towards Han Li, smiling.

"I already knew that." Han Li said calmly.

As he spoke, he secretly activated his celestial spirit energy, but it was instantly absorbed by the golden-patterned vines wrapped around his body.

At this moment, he couldn't even circulate his energy, let alone summon his true mantra wheel.

He clenched his fists, and discovered that his star energy was also being absorbed, although at a slower rate.

"Don't waste your energy. Trapped in my spirit domain, everything you have belongs to me. Once I've drained your celestial spirit energy, your powerful body will become nourishment for my domain, and your nascent soul will become my slave, serving me for all eternity." Dongfang Bai approached Han Li, his smile growing more intense.

His gaze fell on Han Li's neck, where a thin rope was wrapped, and he reached out to touch it.

But just then, Han Li's voice rang out:

"Don't touch my things!"

As soon as he spoke, his body was enveloped in a surge of bloody light, and the Tiānxiè Túyù Gong was activated, his body rapidly expanding, transforming into a three-headed, six-armed giant.

Dongfang Bai felt a strange energy emanating from Han Li's body, and his heart trembled slightly as he retreated.

As he created distance between himself and Han Li, he manipulated his spirit domain, and the countless vines within surged towards Han Li, engulfing his entire body.

Han Li took a step forward, and the vines wrapped around him snapped, unable to restrain him.

The vines continued to entwine him, but Han Li's body seemed to be able to break free from them with ease. Dongfang Bai saw the situation and swung his hands fiercely, causing the spiritual domain within him to shake violently. The ancient trees above surged with green light, transforming into eighteen giant wooden warriors, each over a hundred feet tall, holding massive dragon-shaped wooden spears. They charged towards Han Li.

The wooden warriors' bodies were filled with the dense power of wood-attribute laws. As they thrust their spears, the tips of the spears condensed into spiraling green lights that tore through the surrounding void, twisting towards the spear tips.

Han Li swung his six arms, either punching or clawing, showing no fear. Within a dozen breaths, he had destroyed eight of the wooden warriors and burst out of the encirclement, leaping high into the air and descending towards Dongfang Bai.

However, Dongfang Bai had already stood firm, his body shining with green light. Innumerable green vines wrapped around him, gathering on his body and submerging him. He transformed into a giant wooden warrior, over a hundred feet tall.

But unlike the previous warriors, his wooden armor was covered in golden patterns. Besides containing extremely dense wood-attribute laws, it also emanated a rich life aura.

As Han Li descended, Dongfang Bai raised his left hand, and a golden-patterned whip shot out, wrapping around Han Li's waist. With a fierce pull, he yanked Han Li downwards, while his other hand grasped a golden-patterned wooden spear, thrusting it towards Han Li's heart.

Han Li's waist was bound, and he felt his inner blood flow surging like a bursting river, crazily pouring outwards. If not for his incredibly strong physique, he would have collapsed already.

He extended his dragon claw-like hand, intending to grab the golden-patterned wooden spear. However, the spear tip suddenly erupted with a burst of green light, its power far exceeding his imagination, and it shattered his giant hand, piercing his chest.

A deafening "Boom" echoed through the air!

The golden-patterned wooden spear released a boundless, surging spiritual energy, bursting forth with a dazzling green-gold light. The energy exploded, sending a violent shockwave in all directions, causing the entire spiritual domain to tremble.

Lü Yun and Tao Ji watched from a distance, their hearts filled with shock and awe.

The imprisoned Ti Hu, whose spiritual energy had been mostly drained, had transformed back into her human form. Her small face was pale, and she gazed at Han Li with a concerned expression.

However, when the shockwave dissipated, Han Li's figure remained motionless, the golden-patterned wooden spear still lodged in his chest.

"This... how is this possible?" Dongfang Bai's heart tightened as he beheld the scene.

"You shouldn't have underestimated me," Han Li said with a ferocious grin, his voice like thunder. "Even if you have the power of the Taizong, you're no match for me."

His current body, when using both his bloodline and Heaven-Devouring Demon Domain, was far more powerful than an ordinary Da Luo cultivator. Dongfang Bai's spiritual domain was strong, but ultimately, he was no match for Han Li's might.

Han Li spoke, and then his body descended, forcing the golden-patterned wooden spear to bend. He grasped the golden-patterned whip wrapped around his waist and pulled Dongfang Bai towards him.

His six arms formed fists, raining down a barrage of punches on the wooden warrior's body.

A series of explosive sounds echoed through the air as the entire green spiritual domain shook violently.

Dongfang Bai's wooden warrior body glowed with green light, attempting to block Han Li's heavy punches, but it could only withstand half of them. Soon, it was battered to fragments, its body broken and tattered.

Lü Yun and Tao Ji exchanged a glance, their eyes filled with fear.

With their strength, they were no match for this battle. Even Han Li's physical strength, which was pouring out like a river, was something they couldn't withstand.

Before long, Dongfang Bai's figure emerged from the shattered wooden warrior, and he was grasped by Han Li.

"You should not have pushed things too far," Han Li said, his three true spirit heads speaking in unison, their voices like thunder. "Why did you not spare the Qinghu City, a small tribe's home?"

"Originally, it was because of those insects—"

"Ah—"

Dongfang Bai's words were cut short as Han Li clenched his fist, crushing him into a pulp.

After a moment, blood flowed from Han Li's fingers, but there was no sign of an escaping Nascent Soul.

He threw the distorted corpse to the ground, his body slowly returning to normal. His brow furrowed as he gazed towards Lü Yun and Tao Ji.

Near them, a green sprout on a nearby plant began to glow, growing larger and transforming into a human figure – another Dongfang Bai.

The previous Dongfang Bai's body, bound by green vines, had been absorbed into the ground, covered in green moss.

"It seems today's outcome is already decided," the newly appeared Dongfang Bai said, his face somewhat gloomy. "It seems I won't be able to claim all the credit. Han Daoist, we will meet again."

"You think you can leave?" Han Li sneered, his voice cold.

As soon as he spoke, a golden light screen expanded, and a more dazzling golden spiritual domain emerged within the green spiritual domain.

"Too late," Han Li said, his voice dripping with malice.

Time Domain!

Dongfang Bai's eyes swept around, and his heart trembled.

The next moment, he silently retracted the blue Time Domain, grabbed Tao Ji and Lü Yun, and their figures burst forth, shooting towards the high sky.

The lake water, now free from the Time Domain's constraints, immediately rolled back and surged towards the center.

Dongfang Bai and the other two were surrounded by a dazzling blue glow, which violently clashed with the golden Time Domain. Astonishingly, it neutralized most of the Time Domain's power, allowing them to escape at a speed that was hardly affected.

"You think you can escape today?" Han Li bellowed, his body's true wheel reversing instantly. His figure flashed, and he reappeared above the three.

Dongfang Bai saw this and a hint of ruthlessness flashed in his eyes. He slapped Tao Ji and Lü Yun's backs, sending them flying towards Han Li above and Xiuhun below.

Tao Ji and Lü Yun were shocked, realizing they couldn't move or even speak.

Han Li saw Tao Ji hurtling towards him and raised his palm to strike. However, Tao Ji suddenly discovered his abdomen had rapidly inflated, and a small, green sprout had grown from his navel.

Before Han Li's palm could touch him, a deafening explosion occurred.

Tao Ji's abdomen had swollen to its limit and burst apart, releasing a massive amount of energy that sent Han Li flying backward, his outstretched hand now bloodied and mangled.

However, Han Li didn't have time to tend to his wounds, as Lü Yun was now hurtling towards Xiuhun.

Han Li reversed his true wheel, unleashing the power of the Lei Peng, and his figure shot into the lake like a bolt of lightning. He grabbed the exhausted Xiuhun and, before he could escape, heard a thunderous explosion behind him.

The sound of the explosion shook the three lakes, causing the underwater mountains and waterfalls to shatter and erupt in a massive wave that reached thousands of feet high, flooding the nearby Shuzi Mountain.

After a while, two figures emerged from the lake, hovering in mid-air.

"Master, Dongfang Bai is truly cunning and ruthless. To escape, he didn't hesitate to sacrifice his companions!" Xiuhun said, her face pale with anger.

"The fact that someone with such a wicked heart is in charge of a domain is a testament to the corruption within the Heavenly Court. However, it's of no consequence. You can't escape forever; debts will always be repaid." Han Li shook his head, speaking slowly.

"Master, what do you plan to do now?" Xiuhun asked, looking at Han Li.

"I'll take care of it. For now, rest and recover." Han Li waved his hand, opening the Huazhi Cave Heaven, and let Xiuhun return to rest.

Then, his figure vanished into the sky.

...

At the western end of the Jin Yuan mountain range, a series of palaces stretched across the mountains, peaks, and even floated in mid-air, as far as the eye could see.

Rainbow-colored bridges connected the various palaces, and the sky was filled with auspicious clouds and flying cranes, creating a breathtaking landscape.

This was the Jin Yuan Immortal Palace.

A green light appeared in the distance, shooting towards the palace at an incredible speed. In an instant, it arrived, and Dongfang Bai's figure emerged, continuing towards the palace's inner depths.

His face was gloomy, like a stormy sky, and his expression was unsightly. The palace's personnel bowed and greeted him, but dared not speak further.

Dongfang Bai soon arrived at the grand hall where the golden transmission circle was located. He took out the purple token, hesitated for a moment, and then placed it on the circle, pointing at it with his fingers.

A dazzling purple light emanated from the token, turning the surrounding golden array purple, and it began to flash rapidly.

A moment later, a figure appeared within the array – a woman with green hair, looking like a 16- or 17-year-old girl with a pale complexion, as if she were a frail, sheltered noblewoman. However, her eyes exuded boundless majesty. Dongfang Bai, what's the matter that you've used the Nine Yuan Command to activate the Tian Luo Formation and contact me? If those people from the Qing Tian Monitoring find out, it'll be another trouble.

Miao Fa Xian Zun, I've just received some news regarding the Chaos Crystal Grain, I didn't dare to delay even for a moment, so I used the Nine Yuan Command to report to you immediately, please forgive me.

What?! You've found a lead on the Chaos Crystal Grain?! Tell me everything, don't leave out a single word!

Dongfang Bai's clothes fluttered in the windless air, his heart skipped a beat, and he quickly composed himself before reporting the matter of Han Li and the Palms of Heaven Bottle.

The origin of this matter was related to the Tao brothers, but in Dongfang Bai's words, it was as if he had discovered a clue beforehand and sent people to investigate. Anyway, the two brothers were already dead, and there was no evidence to prove otherwise.

The crystal grain is indeed likely to be the Chaos Crystal Grain! Good, great, the Palms of Heaven Bottle has finally reappeared in the True Immortal Realm!

Before Dongfang Bai could catch his breath, Miao Fa Xian Zun's eyes flashed with a cold light, and she said in a cold tone:

But you've already discovered this matter, why didn't you report it earlier?

I'm guilty! I was greedy for merit and wanted to capture Han Li, take the Palms of Heaven Bottle, and present it to you, but I didn't expect him to be so powerful. I gathered all the power of the Jinyuan Xian Palace, but we were still no match for him. Please punish me!

Dongfang Bai knelt down, his face filled with shock and fear, but his eyes revealed a hint of calmness.

He didn't try to cover up his mistakes, as the matter of Han Li had already spread, and it was better to admit his fault.

Miao Fa Xian Zun's expression turned displeased, and she asked:

Where is Han Li now?

Dongfang Bai quickly replied:

I've sent people to investigate his whereabouts, but we haven't received any news yet. However, I've already ordered the closure of all transmission formations in the Jinyuan Xian Domain, so he must still be in the Jinyuan Mountain Range.

Miao Fa Xian Zun's expression softened, and she said:

You've done well. You've discovered the lead on the Chaos Crystal Grain, and your merit is not small. However, you hid this matter and didn't report it in time, and you took action on your own, which led to Han Li being on guard. Your fault is not light. Now, your merit and fault cancel each other out, and your future performance will determine your punishment. If you can capture Han Li and retrieve the Palms of Heaven Bottle, your previous mistakes will be forgiven, and I will personally reward you. But if you let him escape the Jinyuan Xian Domain, the consequences will be severe.

Dongfang Bai's face tightened, and he said:

Yes, I understand. But with Han Li's strength, I'm afraid the Jinyuan Xian Palace alone is not enough...

Miao Fa Xian Zun's expression turned serious, and she said:

Don't worry, I'll send the Lan siblings from the Jinhuan Xian Palace to assist you. You must be more careful this time and not alarm Han Li.

Dongfang Bai's face lit up with joy, as he had heard of the Lan siblings' reputation.

Although they were only in the Taiyi Later Period, they had a secret technique that allowed them to merge their cultivation for a short time, reaching the Great Luo Realm. They had once fought a Great Luo from the Wheel of Reincarnation for three days and three nights without losing, and their reputation had spread far and wide.

Even if Han Li was powerful, with the Lan siblings' help, it would be like having two Great Luo Realm cultivators fighting against him, and he would not be a match.

Dongfang Bai's heart was filled with determination.

Miao Fa Xian Zun reminded him a few more times before ending the conversation, and her figure disappeared from the formation.

Dongfang Bai's face relaxed, and he let out a long sigh before stopping the formation and retrieving the purple command token. The formation returned to its original state.

In a pink palace within the Heavenly Court, a girl with green hair sat on a bed, surrounded by a soft, pink glow that gave off a gentle, feminine atmosphere.

A large, yellow toad sat beside the bed, its body covered in rough, hard bumps, and six copper bell-sized eyes on its face. Although it was motionless, its aura was extremely powerful, almost rivaling Miao Fa Xian Zun's.

The yellow toad spoke in a human-like voice:

Congratulations, Master, you've found a lead on the Chaos Crystal Grain. If you can retrieve the Palms of Heaven Bottle, the Nine Yuan Ancestor will surely look at you differently, and the position of Deputy Observer will be yours for the taking.

Miao Fa Xian Zun replied calmly:

I'm not interested in the position of Deputy Observer, I just hope to use this merit to ask the Observer for guidance and help me overcome the second corpse.

The yellow toad nodded and said:

You're right, Master, no matter what, strength is the most important thing.

Miao Fa Xian Zun ordered the yellow toad:

Pass on my orders to the Jinhuan Xian Palace, and you also go to the Jinyuan Xian Domain.

It's enough that the Blue siblings have taken action, why must I be sent to deal with Han Li, who is only a Taiyi realm cultivator?" Huang Zhanchu, the yellow toad, let out a disdainful snort.

"According to rumors, Han Li cultivates the Time Law, one of the three supreme laws, and has made significant progress. We must not underestimate him. Only the Blue siblings can be trusted, and I am not confident in anyone else. You must go to the location, keep your identity hidden, and act in secret. You must strike with one blow and ensure success." Miao Fa Xian Zun shook his head and said.

Chu Zhanchu's expression remained unchanged, but a hint of dissatisfaction flashed in his six eyes.

Is it really necessary to send me, a Da Luo cultivator, to deal with a mere Taiyi realm cultivator? And to make matters worse, I have to hide in the shadows and launch a sneak attack? It's an insult to my abilities.

"This is a matter of great importance, and we cannot afford to make any mistakes. If you fail, you will be held accountable!" Miao Fa Xian Zun's eyes turned cold.

"Yes, I will go and transmit the message." Chu Zhanchu stood up, and his body began to shrink rapidly, transforming into a fat, yellow-faced woman.

The woman's body flashed, and she transformed into a yellow shadow that merged with the ground, disappearing from sight.

Miao Fa Xian Zun gazed at the empty space in front of him before disappearing into thin air.

...

In the Golden Source Immortal Palace, Dongfang Bai walked out of the transmission hall, his anxious expression replaced by a calm demeanor.

As long as the people from the Golden Source Immortal Palace arrive, capturing Han Li will be a trivial matter. At that time, he will make Han Li pay for the humiliation he suffered.

Dongfang Bai thought of several cruel methods to torture Han Li, and his heart felt a sense of satisfaction.

"Someone, come here!" Dongfang Bai called out.

A beam of light shot towards him from a distance, and a young man with a cold, stern expression appeared before him.

"Palace Master, what are your orders?" the young man asked.

"Black Knife and Lü Yun were defeated and killed during our previous mission. From now on, you will be the leader of the 'Dark Sword' faction. Send out all the spies in the 'Dark Sword' faction and contact the hidden agents in various locations. You must find out Han Li's whereabouts." Dongfang Bai instructed.

"Yes!" The young man's eyes lit up with excitement, and he bowed to acknowledge the order.

Just then, a muffled sound came from a distance, and the ground shook violently. The nearby halls trembled, and a loud rumbling sound echoed through the air.

"What's going on?" Dongfang Bai's brow furrowed, and he looked outside.

"I'll go and take a look," the young man said, ready to fly out.

At that moment, a figure appeared before them, covered in blood and wearing a golden robe.

"Palace Master, it's not good! Someone has invaded the palace, and we can't hold them back!" the man exclaimed.

"What kind of person dares to cause trouble in the Golden Source Immortal Palace?" Dongfang Bai's eyes flashed with anger, and he was about to fly out, but his expression changed, and he stopped.

He expanded his divine sense, scanning the entrance of the palace, and his face changed.

...

The entrance of the palace, once grand and majestic, was now in shambles. Over a dozen halls had collapsed, reduced to rubble.

In the air, more than a hundred palace cultivators, led by five black-robed old men, formed a semicircular battle array.

The five old men were almost identical in height and appearance, as if they were brothers. They emitted a cold, sinister aura.

The palace cultivators were mostly in the True Immortal realm, while the five black-robed old men were Taiyi realm cultivators.

Various immortal artifacts and secret techniques rained down from the battle array, attacking the opponent.

However, the opponent was a single person.

He was a young man in a blue robe, surrounded by four or five dozen golden flying swords that swirled around him like fish, creating a dense, golden sword shadow that easily deflected the attacks.

At the same time, the young man's fingers flicked, and another dozen golden flying swords shot out from his sleeves, transforming into ten or more hundred-meter-long golden sword auras that descended like divine swords, emitting a thunderous roar.

The sword auras had not yet landed, but they created a long, white sword scar in the sky, as if the heavens themselves were being torn apart.

The five Taiyi realm old men's faces changed, and they immediately transformed into a cross shape, each spitting out a black flag with a ferocious black dragon pattern.

The five men made a series of hand seals, and the black flags expanded, growing several times larger, emitting a rustling sound.

A massive, sticky black cloud emerged from the flags, engulfing the sword auras. The air seemed to corrode, emitting a hissing sound.

The nearby Golden Immortal cultivators retreated in fear, avoiding the black cloud like a snake.

"Dark energy!" the young man's eyebrows rose, and he moved his fingers.

The golden sword auras on the surface of the black cloud emitted a hissing sound, as if they were being corroded. However, they also produced a series of thick, golden lightning arcs, releasing a powerful, righteous energy that clashed with the black cloud. Dark clouds churned violently, suddenly emitting a thunderous crash, as if encountering their arch-nemesis, transforming into countless wisps of black smoke that dispersed and vanished.

Those golden sword auras instantly tore through the dark clouds, striking towards the five Taizhen realm elders behind.

The five elders' faces changed drastically, their bodies flashing with black energy, their tall figures suddenly shrinking drastically in the explosion, instantly transforming into three-foot-tall dwarves, dodging to the side with incredible speed, barely avoiding the golden sword auras.

The golden sword auras did not pursue the five elders, instead falling upon the True Immortals and Golden Immortals behind them.

"Ahhh!"

Blood-curdling screams erupted as the sword auras swept through the crowd, creating waves of blood, severed limbs, and mangled bodies, with not a single True Immortal escaping unscathed. Moreover, a full third of the Golden Immortals fell, with the remaining Golden Immortals fleeing in terror, the Half-Month War Array instantly collapsing.

Han Li's cultivation had made great strides, and the power of the Qingtian Bee Cloud Sword had increased accordingly.

The five Taizhen elders' bodies suddenly snapped back into their original form, their faces twisted in rage.

The surrounding Golden Immortals were all pillars of the Jinyuan Immortal Palace, and now they had been annihilated by the dozens.

"Who are you, sir? How dare you slaughter our people like this! You'll be pursued by the Heavenly Court's endless wanted notices!" one of the elders thundered.

The blue-robed man's face remained expressionless, as if he hadn't heard the elder's words, raising his hand to flick his fingers once more.

The dozen or so sword auras trembled, then shot out again, transforming into illusions that pursued the other Golden Immortals, with several more Golden Immortals being pierced and killed in an instant.

The five Taizhen realm elders' faces turned ashen, their eyes fixed on the depths of the palace, as if waiting for something to happen, but nothing did.

"Ahhh!" "Ahhh!" Two more Golden Immortals were pierced and killed.

The five elders' faces grew even more somber, and they were about to charge forward recklessly when a dozen or so dazzling green lights descended from the sky, transforming into a dozen green serpents.

These green serpents were incredibly fast and agile, their massive bodies wrapping around the golden sword auras.

Threads of green energy shot out from the serpents, entwining the fierce golden sword auras.

The golden sword auras trembled, electric arcs flashing, as the green threads instantly shattered, but more green energy shot out from the serpents, continuing to entwine the sword auras.

Breaking one thread, three more would grow; breaking ten threads, a hundred more would grow!

In the span of a few breaths, the golden sword auras' luster had dulled significantly, and their size had shrunk considerably.

Innumerable green threads entwined the sword auras, forming a massive cocoon that enveloped them.

The blue-robed man's eyes flickered, his hand weaving a seal.

The golden sword auras suddenly shrank, transforming into a small golden sword the size of a foot, which slashed through the air.

"Shh!" The green cocoon was instantly torn apart, the golden sword auras flying out, swirling around the blue-robed man.

A figure descended from the sky, none other than Dongfang Bai.

The dozen or so green serpents flew back, shrinking rapidly, and linking together, forming a dozen cyan rings that floated around him.

The palace's inhabitants were shocked to see Dongfang Bai's figure.

"The palace master has arrived!"

"This kid, our palace master is here, and your time is up!"

"Palace master, this person has committed atrocities, slaughtering many of our people, and today he will not be allowed to leave this place alive!"

The palace's inhabitants flew to Dongfang Bai's side, their faces twisted in anger.

Dongfang Bai ignored the crowd, his eyes fixed on the blue-robed man, a smile spreading across his face.

"Ah, Han Li, I admit your strength is formidable, but you dare to slaughter our people like this? You're bold, indeed!"

"East Bai, you've come out yourself, saving me the trouble! You slaughtered the Qinghuo tribe without reason, killing 57,300 people, your crimes are heinous, and today is your day of reckoning!" The blue-robed man, Han Li, looked up at Dongfang Bai, his voice dripping with malice.

The crowd's expressions changed, many looking at Dongfang Bai with suspicion.

The Heavenly Court had long since decreed that wanton slaughter of the weak was forbidden, and violators would be punished severely. Han Li's words seemed too certain to be mere rumors.

"The Qinghuo tribe sheltered you, a wanted man on the Immortal Execution List, and attacked my search party, they deserved to die!" Dongfang Bai's brow furrowed, responding immediately.

"Enough, today I've come to take your life, to offer sacrifice to the Qinghuo tribe's departed souls, come and meet your end!" Han Li didn't bother to argue further, his hands weaving a seal.

The dozens of Qingtian Bee Cloud Swords swirling around him trembled, shooting towards Dongfang Bai, emitting a piercing sword cry.

Dongfang Bai saw this and responded by weaving a seal.

A crisp sound erupted as the green rings around him flew out, transforming into a dozen green serpents, which shot out innumerable green threads that entwined the Qingtian Bee Cloud Swords.

"Get back!" Dongfang Bai shouted as he made a move.

The five old men in the Taiyi realm heard his words and immediately led the others to fly towards the inside.

Han Li didn't pay attention to the others and suddenly changed his sword technique.

More than sixty flying swords with golden lightning on their surface appeared, and a dense, cold glow filled the air, making the space around them tremble and become hazy.

This time, the sword energy was much stronger than before, and the green silk threads around the giant python couldn't even touch the flying swords. Instead, they were torn apart by the sound of ripping fabric.

The green giant pythons were also wrapped around by the sword energy and broken into several pieces.

"Boom!"

Dongfang Bai's eyes narrowed, and he shouted loudly.

The green giant pythons' bodies suddenly swelled and then exploded, turning into a green sun that filled half the sky and created a massive whirlwind that swept across the area.

The space shook, and the sword light was disrupted.

Dongfang Bai took the opportunity to turn around and wrap his body in a green cloud, flying towards the depths of the palace.

Han Li saw this and was shocked, but then his eyes narrowed, and he activated his true wheel technique.

A loud thunderclap sounded, and his figure disappeared, only to reappear in front of Dongfang Bai.

He disappeared and reappeared in an instant, leaving Dongfang Bai momentarily stunned.

Before Dongfang Bai could react, Han Li activated his true word technique, and countless golden waves spread out from his body, quickly covering Dongfang Bai.

This series of movements was like a flowing cloud, completed in an instant.

Dongfang Bai's body was frozen in mid-air, along with the green light around him, as if he was a fly trapped in amber.

Han Li's eyes flashed with a fierce killing intent, and he raised his hand to point.

A brilliant golden light shot out from his hand, "popping" through Dongfang Bai's abdomen and creating a blood-red hole.

But after the attack, Han Li's face changed, and he quickly withdrew his golden waves.

Dongfang Bai's body suddenly appeared with a layer of white light, quickly turning into a white puppet.

The puppet seemed to be made of white beast bones, with talismans attached to its body, and white patterns flashing on its surface, forming a mysterious human-shaped diagram.

"Replacement puppet?" Han Li's face turned ugly.

He had seen records of this white puppet in Crab Daoist's books, which said that it was a unique puppet created by a powerful being in the Heavenly Court. It could inject one's spiritual energy and law power into the puppet, creating a replacement that was identical to the original in appearance and aura.

Crab Daoist had wanted to obtain one of these puppets for research, but had never succeeded. He didn't expect to encounter one here.

At this moment, numerous green lights appeared, forming a green spiritual domain that enveloped Han Li.

Thick, gnarled branches suddenly appeared, wrapping around Han Li's body and devouring his spiritual energy.

At the same time, a massive golden mountain peak appeared in the sky, occupying half of the space, with giant symbols etched into its surface. It seemed to be a heavenly artifact, radiating a destructive aura, and was about to crush Han Li.

On the mountain peak, the figures of Dongfang Bai, the five old men in the Taiyi realm, and the other golden immortals were visible, all of whom were solemnly activating their techniques to control the golden mountain peak.

The mountain peak had yet to fall, but an immense, crushing force emanated from it.

A deafening "rumble" shook the air!

The golden mountain peak crashed down, causing the ground within a radius of tens of thousands of miles to tremble violently. The entire Golden Source Palace, along with the nearby mountains, sank three feet into the ground.

Dongfang Bai saw this and finally smiled.

This Mustard Gold Mountain was something he had spent countless years and resources creating, using the golden yuan stones from the Golden Source Mountains. He knew its power best.

Unfortunately, the mountain was too massive and heavy, and his own spiritual energy couldn't activate it. He had to rely on the palace's array to control it, which was why he hadn't brought it with him earlier.

The other cultivators, including the five old men in the Taiyi realm, were also secretly relieved and excited.

Being able to work together with the palace master to drive this powerful artifact and defeat the enemy was a rare opportunity for training.

But the next moment, Dongfang Bai's smile froze, and the others were also taken aback. Everyone's gaze fell upon the towering golden peak that exceeded a thousand meters in height, with many people displaying looks of incredulity, as if they had seen a ghost in broad daylight.

But then, the originally stable golden peak began to shake and tremble, and slowly rose into the air, as if being lifted from below.

It didn't take long for them to realize what was happening.

Underneath the massive mountain peak, a three-headed, six-armed giant stood up, in the same posture as when Han Li was practicing the "Tian Xia Zhen Yu Gong".

Two massive arms held up the golden mountain, as if lifting a common stone.

"It's impossible to lift the Xumi Golden Mountain with just physical strength!" Dong Fang Bai shouted in shock, but his voice was cut off in an instant.

A golden glow surrounded Han Li's giant form, and the trees that had taken root in his body suddenly disappeared.

A small golden tree floated in front of the giant, which was the Dong Yi Divine Tree that Han Li had painstakingly refined, radiating dazzling golden light.

The green plants in the nearby spiritual realm instantly transformed into a stream of yuan qi, recognizing their ancestor and merging into the Dong Yi Divine Tree, which then transmitted the energy into Han Li's body.

The spiritual energy that Han Li had absorbed earlier was rapidly restored.

Meanwhile, the green spiritual realm rapidly dimmed and thinned, as if withering away.

"This is impossible, my Wood Spirit Realm is a self-sustaining system, it should be everlasting, how could it be devoured..." Dong Fang Bai's face turned pale with terror, and he was about to do something, but Han Li's giant form took action first.

The giant's remaining four arms shot up into the air, with silver patterns appearing on his fists, each transforming into a dozen silver talismans.

With a loud "Boom!", four massive fists exploded with brilliant golden light, and under the giant's three heads, they simultaneously roared and struck the Xumi Golden Mountain.

A deafening explosion shook the air, even louder than the sound of the Xumi Golden Mountain landing earlier.

The golden mountain peak shot forward, knocking down over a dozen mountain peaks before finally coming to a stop.

The people on top of the mountain were already shaken off by the impact, with only a few powerful individuals managing to hold on, their faces filled with terror and unable to speak.

Dong Fang Bai's face was deathly pale, with cold sweat dripping down, and he immediately dispelled his spiritual realm, transforming into a green light that rapidly fled towards the depths of the Immortal Palace.

"Don't think you can escape!" Han Li's giant form shot forward, chasing after Dong Fang Bai.

Just then, a thick, dark cloud suddenly rolled in from the side, blocking Han Li's path, and from within the cloud, the five Taichi elders appeared.

Each of the five elders held a black flag, and with a fierce wave, the dark cloud expanded, enveloping Han Li, and eight massive, ferocious black dragon claws shot out, grabbing towards Han Li.

The eight claws emitted a different aura than before, without the corrosive feeling, but instead radiating a powerful, piercing force that seemed capable of tearing through the sky.

The five elders, despite intercepting Han Li, were secretly worried.

The brief exchange earlier had given them a deep understanding of Han Li's power, and as elders of the Golden Source Immortal Palace, they had to obey the Palace Master's orders, or risk being guilty of disobedience.

For now, they could only hope to use the Five Dragon Heavenly Flag to temporarily hold off Han Li, and then plan their next move.

"You're looking for death!" Han Li coldly snorted, and with a flick of his sleeve...

Seventy-two green bamboo swords shot out from his sleeve, transforming into seventy-two electric arcs of sword light, emitting a powerful thunderous law, and slashing towards the black dragon claws.

With a loud "Sizzle", the black dragon claws, which seemed invincible, were easily shattered by the electric sword light.

In the dark cloud, the five elders' black flags cracked, and the light on them dimmed. The five elders were shocked and quickly retreated.

But the seventy-two electric arcs of sword light were too fast, and with a few flashes, they caught up to the dark cloud, and mercilessly hacked down.

The five Taichi elders roared in anger, and the dark cloud violently churned, meeting the electric sword light head-on. The five elders' bodies glowed with treasure light as they summoned their protective treasures.

However, upon contact, the dark cloud seemed to evaporate like ice and snow in the face of the electric sword light, and the five elders' protective treasures were easily destroyed, shattering into pieces.

The five Taichi elders were terrified, finally realizing the vast difference in power between Han Li and themselves, and they were about to use their shrinking secret technique to escape.

But a flash of golden light appeared, and the five elders' necks were suddenly bound by an electric arc of golden light, with a fierce sword intent descending upon them. The five elders' hearts turned cold, and their spiritual energy slowed, making them dare not move.

The surrounding Golden Immortal cultivators saw Dong Fang Bai escape, and many of them had already lost their will to fight, fleeing in all directions. Only the five Taichi elders' direct disciples remained, who had been about to continue attacking Han Li.

Seeing the scene, they were filled with terror, and someone shouted, causing the scene to erupt into chaos. The remaining cultivators turned from their encirclement to a chaotic retreat, with a scene of trees falling and monkeys scattering.

The five Taichi elders, still bound by the electric arc of golden light, were unable to move, and their faces turned pale with fear.

Han Li's giant form stood tall, his three heads gazing at the fleeing cultivators, his eyes cold and unyielding.

With a wave of his hand, the electric arc of golden light dissipated, and the five Taichi elders collapsed to the ground, their bodies trembling with fear.

Han Li's giant form slowly began to shrink, returning to his normal size, and with a cold smile, he said, "You should have stayed out of this."

"You are the Tian Yin Five Sons? Each of you report your name." Han Li ignored the Golden Immortal cultivators and looked at the five old men, his voice cold and stern.

"I am Yin Tianhu, I hope Han Dao friend will spare my life, we really didn't know about the affair between you and the East Palace Master." The five men looked at each other, and the one on the far left, an old man with a flattering smile, bowed to Han Li.

Although the five men looked similar, they had some differences, and each of them wore a black jade ring on their hand, which seemed to be a storage ring. The ring on the old man's hand had a tiger character on it.

"I am Yin Tianlu, nice to meet you, Han Dao friend." The old man next to him, wearing a ring with a deer character, also showed a flattering smile.

"I am Yin Tianxiong." The old man next to Yin Tianlu, with a slightly square face, spoke calmly.

"Hmph! I am Yin Tianyuan, since I'm not as skilled as you, do as you please, kill or torture me." The old man on the far right, with a proud expression, sneered.

"Fourth brother, don't be reckless!" Yin Tianhu's face changed, and he scolded.

At this moment, the last person's body suddenly glowed with a bloody light, and his body shrunk rapidly, dodging the sword light that was about to behead him. He then transformed into a bloody shadow and escaped at an incredible speed.

However, he didn't escape far, and the sword light appeared beside him, striking him with a speed that was several times faster than his escape. With a loud "bang", his body exploded into a mess of blood.

"Fourth brother!"

"Han Dao friend, spare his life!"

The remaining four men were shocked, and they cried out in alarm.

Han Li remained still, and a silver light flashed behind him, revealing a black figure, which was Qiuhun.

She grasped at the air with her hands, and her palms glowed with a bloody light, forming two crimson rings that emitted a devouring force.

With a "whoosh", a ball of soul light shot out from the blood, and Qiuhun caught it.

Along with the soul, the storage ring on the deceased's hand also flew into Qiuhun's hand, with a eagle character on it.

The other four men saw this and changed their expressions, instinctively wanting to do something, but they saw the sword light on their necks and became obedient.

"We cultivators have taken many lives, this is nothing, but what I, Han Li, hate the most is those who slaughter the weak and innocent. Anyone who has done such a thing will not be spared today! You Tian Yin Five Sons are famous, and I made you report your names so that you can die with clarity!" Han Li said calmly.

The four men heard this and changed their expressions, wanting to escape, but Han Li's gaze made them freeze.

"The one who tried to escape was Yin Tianying, right? He slaughtered over a hundred mortal cities to refine a blood path immortal artifact, and killed countless innocent people. He is not worthy of sympathy." Han Li said slowly.

The four men heard this and were shocked, wondering how Han Li knew about Yin Tianying's secret.

"Yin Tianhu, you once cultivated in the Cangyun Mountains, using the yin energy to break through your bottleneck. You slaughtered a small sect, the Jinfeng Sect, which had over two thousand people, just to take their cultivation site. Is this true?" Han Li looked at Yin Tianhu.

"Dao friend, I think there's been a misunderstanding, I..." Yin Tianhu's face turned white, unable to speak.

"Yin Tianlu, you refined a demonic treasure, the Child Mother Pursuit Soul Banner, using the blood of pregnant women who were over six months pregnant. I'm not mistaken, am I?" Han Li ignored Yin Tianhu and looked at Yin Tianlu.

Yin Tianlu's face turned pale, and his body trembled uncontrollably.

"Yin Tianxiong, don't pretend to be a righteous person, I've already investigated, you have a sinister nature, and you cultivate the demonic technique, the Yin-Yang Harmony Sutra. In the past few years, many female disciples from the large sects in the Golden Source Domain have gone missing, and you've been secretly capturing them to absorb their yin energy." Han Li turned to Yin Tianxiong, his voice cold.

Yin Tianxiong's body shook, and his face lost all its color.

"And you, Yin Tianyuan, you may not have killed people for your own desires, but you're a loyal dog of Dongfang Bai, and you've slaughtered countless tribes and sects on his orders. You're not worthy of sympathy." Han Li finally looked at Yin Tianyuan.

"You've investigated thoroughly, but I've already made a profit, I've destroyed dozens of sects and tribes, and I'm not afraid of death. You can kill me if you want!" Yin Tianyuan sneered, his eyes gleaming with a fierce light.

Han Li sneered, about to strike down the four men.

Just then, a blood-red glow appeared on Yin Tianyuan's face, and his laughter became sharp and shrill, like a monkey's cry.

This laughter contained a strange power, and Han Li's eardrums felt like they were being pierced by a steel needle, causing him intense pain. Even with his current physical strength, he hesitated for a moment.

Yin Tianhu, Yin Tianlu, and Yin Tianxiong quickly retreated, escaping the sword light's restraint. Yin Tian Yuan suddenly broke free from the electric arc sword light, but instead of retreating, he charged towards Han Li.

"This person's strength is too great, I'll hold him back, you all quickly escape!" Yin Tian Yuan shouted, and his entire body turned blood red as he swelled up, transforming into a large blood-red ball that charged towards Han Li.

"Fourth brother!" Yin Tian Xiong's eyes turned red as he watched the scene, and he was about to turn back to help, but was held back by Yin Tian Hu.

"Fourth brother has used the Red Lotus Self-Destruction, he can't be saved, do you want his death to be in vain? Quickly leave!" Yin Tian Hu shouted, and pulled Yin Tian Xiong as they flew away.

At this moment, a loud muffled sound echoed, and a dazzling blood-red light mixed with a rolling storm burst forth.

Han Li silently retracted his fist, his face calm, as a layer of crystal membrane appeared on his body.

The flying blood storm that hit his body was easily blocked by the crystal membrane, and his clothes were not damaged in the slightest.

Yin Tian Hu and the others saw this scene, and their hearts were shocked, Yin Tian Xiong no longer mentioned going back to help, and the three of them immediately fled in different directions.

Yin Tian Hu's body suddenly ignited with a layer of black flames, and he transformed into a large black fireball, flying forward with incredible speed.

Yin Tian Lu swallowed a cyan-colored pill, and as soon as it entered his stomach, a cyan-colored giant deer's shadow appeared on his body, and he let out a loud cry, his four hooves flying as he transformed into a cyan rainbow, shooting forward with incredible speed.

Yin Tian Xiong reacted quickly, and a layer of black light like water waves appeared on his body, and he instantly became transparent, flashing into the ground and disappearing from sight.

Han Li saw this scene, and his left hand struck out with a fist, his right hand weaving a spell, and a crystal light flashed on his forehead, as a blurry sword shadow shot out, disappearing into the void in front of him.

Yin Tian Hu had just flown out a few thousand meters when the void behind him rippled, and a golden fist shadow the size of a house appeared, striking him with incredible speed.

A loud explosion echoed, and Yin Tian Hu's body, along with the black flames outside, burst apart, turning into a bloody rain.

Almost at the same time, a golden light flashed in front of Yin Tian Lu, and an electric arc sword light shot out, cutting towards him.

Yin Tian Lu was fleeing forward, and had not expected the sword light to appear in front of him, and the speed was too fast, he was unable to dodge.

With a soft "chi" sound, Yin Tian Lu's body was instantly cut in half.

In the underground, Yin Tian Xiong was fleeing with all his might, when a crystal light flashed beside him, and a crystal sword shadow appeared, striking down with incredible speed.

A scream echoed from the underground, and then there was silence.

Ti Hou saw this scene, and her hands moved, as a blood-red light appeared in her palms.

A soft "whoosh" sound echoed, and three soul lights flew out from different directions, falling into her hands.

Yin Tian Xiong's soul, which had entered the underground, was cut off by the soul-cutting sword, and completely disappeared.

She now held four soul lights in her hands, which were constantly changing in size, emitting strong soul fluctuations, struggling with all their might, but unable to leave her hands.

"Don't be in a hurry to eat, first check their memories," Han Li said calmly, looking at Ti Hou.

He had come to the Golden Source Immortal Palace to kill Dong Fang Bai and others, to avenge the Qing Huo tribe and others, and also because the Golden Source Immortal Palace had a cross-domain transmission array that connected to other immortal domains.

Now that he had completely exposed his tracks, continuing to stay in the Golden Source Immortal Domain would only lead to more pursuit, so he wanted to use the transmission array to quickly leave the Golden Source Immortal Domain.

"These four people have been rampaging in the Golden Source Immortal Domain, doing all sorts of evil, I won't eat their souls, after searching their souls, I'll refine them into soul vessels, and torment them for 10,000 years," Ti Hou said, her face cold and her voice icy.

As soon as she finished speaking, she began to chant, and a black mist appeared in her hands, wrapping around the four soul lights, as she began to search their souls.

Han Li saw this, and no longer paid attention to Ti Hou, as a golden thunder light enveloped her, and he transformed into a golden electric light, chasing after Dong Fang Bai.

He had captured the Yin Tian five brothers, and had clearly stated that they would be executed for their crimes, but in reality, it had only taken a short time, and Dong Fang Bai had not escaped his divine sense range.

Han Li had locked onto Dong Fang Bai's tracks with his divine sense, and was using his thunder escape technique to chase after him, and soon caught up to him from behind, a few hundred miles away.

"Hmph! You think you can escape?" Han Li coldly snorted, and swept his sleeve.

Seventy-two electric arc sword lights flashed and merged into one, transforming into a thick electric light, its speed increasing several times.

A loud thunderous sound echoed, and the thick electric light caught up to Dong Fang Bai, striking down with incredible force.

Dongfang Bai suddenly turned around and spat out a mouthful of air.

A large green banner flew out of his mouth, shook slightly, and suddenly countless green flowers appeared, forming a green flower cluster that rushed towards the incoming electric light.

A thick fragrance spread out, and the fragrance contained a special power that made people feel soft and weak, losing their strength.

The electric light was covered by the fragrance, and its sharp light weakened, striking the flower cluster.

The green flower cluster flashed wildly, and was broken by the attack, but still managed to block it.

At this time, Dongfang Bai's body became blurry and turned into a green shadow, shooting towards a tall golden palace below.

A loud thunderclap sounded, and Han Li suddenly appeared, rushing towards the palace.

At the same time, he pinched a seal.

The electric light suddenly intensified, and a burst of golden light exploded, tearing apart the remaining green flowers.

The green banner appeared, but it was already broken into two pieces, losing its spiritual energy and falling to the ground.

The electric light flew back and disappeared into Han Li's sleeve.

Han Li's figure appeared in front of the palace, just as he was about to enter.

Just then, a loud rumbling sound was heard.

The originally open palace door suddenly closed, and the door was several dozen feet high, with a black and shiny surface that exuded an unbreakable feeling.

Ancient golden patterns were engraved on the door, forming a sword shape, with some large and some small, emitting a fierce and sharp aura, indicating a powerful seal.

Han Li's eyebrows furrowed, and he stopped in front of the door, not forcing his way in. He looked around and asked, "Tixi, have you finished investigating? What is this place?"

"Master, wait a moment, the memories in these four people's souls are very vast, and it will take some time... Ah, this is the transmission hall of the Jin Yuan Sect's domain, and inside is the cross-domain transmission array!" Tixi's hands glowed with black light, wrapping around the four people's souls, using her soul-searching technique. Her face suddenly changed, and she exclaimed, "You want to leave? Humph!"

Han Li heard this and clenched his fists.

His three giant heads suddenly became clear, one transforming into a mountain giant ape, one into a true spirit dragon, and one into a heavenly whale, his body suddenly growing larger, and his skin glowing with over 900 spiritual light points.

Three true spirit bloodline powers burst out of his body, and a powerful and terrifying aura exploded from him.

Han Li shouted, and his two fists struck the black door.

"No, master, this hall is made of the legendary material god stone, which is one of the hardest materials in the world, and even a Mahārāja might not be able to break it. Moreover, the seal on the door is very powerful, and it cannot be broken by brute force. I have already found the opening method, let me try..." Tixi saw Han Li's actions and immediately spoke up.

But before she finished speaking, Han Li's fists had already struck the door.

With a loud crash, the palace shook violently, and the surrounding area within a hundred miles was torn apart, with smoke and dust flying everywhere.

The nearby air was filled with a loud rumbling sound, and a fierce storm was stirred up.

The door shook violently, and a dense network of cracks appeared.

Suddenly, thousands of golden sword lights erupted from the door, forming a massive sword array that attacked Han Li.

The fierce sword intent filled the air, surpassing Han Li's Blue Bamboo Bee Cloud Sword Array.

Han Li spat out a mouthful of air, and a green light flew out, wrapping around the sword lights.

The green light flashed, and all the sword lights disappeared, as if the previous sword array was just an illusion.

The green light flew back into Han Li's mouth, and his six giant fists glowed with silver light, striking the door again.

With a loud crash, the door finally collapsed, shattering into countless fragments.

"What were you just saying?" Han Li suddenly remembered that Tixi had said something earlier, and he turned to ask her.

"Uh..." Tixi stared blankly at the destroyed door, muttering.

Han Li's eyebrows moved slightly, and he ignored Tixi, rushing into the palace.

The palace was circular, with a diameter of several hundred feet, and the floor was supported by dozens of giant white stone pillars.

In the center of the palace, a golden transmission array was set up, with a diameter of over 60 feet, and countless mysterious symbols were engraved on it. The twelve silver pillars surrounding the golden array stood tall, each one several meters high, with a majestic silver dragon carving on top.

At this moment, Dongfang Bai was busy arranging the silver crystal stones around the golden array, inserting them into the grooves on the pillars.

Half of the pillars were already filled, and the silver light on the pillars grew brighter, with the silver dragon carvings spewing out silver light towards the center of the array.

Han Li's massive body crashed to the ground, creating two deep pits, and the entire hall shook violently.

"Impossible! There's a divine stone gate outside, and the Tianyi Sword Array is set up on it. How did you break through so quickly?" Dongfang Bai's face was filled with incredulity as he roared.

"Han Li, you shall die!" Dongfang Bai shouted.

Han Li ignored Dongfang Bai's question, his massive body emerging from the smoke, like a demon god from the chaos. The golden light on his body flashed, and the True Words Treasure Wheel appeared behind him.

Dongfang Bai's face changed, and he didn't bother to arrange the array anymore. His body flashed, and he disappeared from the spot.

Han Li smiled slightly, not paying attention, and activated the True Words Treasure Wheel.

A low hum sounded, and countless golden ripples spread out from the wheel, filling the entire hall.

The air near the door rippled, and Dongfang Bai reappeared, trapped by the True Words Treasure Wheel, unable to move.

Han Li's body flashed, and he returned to his human form. He flicked his finger, and a golden sword shot out, piercing Dongfang Bai's abdomen.

Dongfang Bai's abdomen was torn open, and his Yuan Ying was shattered, his true body destroyed.

Han Li's heart relaxed, and he changed his hand seal. The golden ripples from the True Words Treasure Wheel flashed once and disappeared.

As the ripples vanished, a green light ball shot out from Dongfang Bai's body, heading towards the outside of the hall.

"Ah, the soul!" Han Li said calmly.

A dark shadow flashed, and Ti Hou appeared, blocking the green light ball with a wave of his hand, unleashing a bloody light that wrapped around the ball.

The green light ball struggled fiercely, but it couldn't escape.

"Two friends, I was wrong in the past, and I offended you both. Please spare my life, and I'll give you all my collections and the wealth of the Golden Source Sect. The Golden Source Sect is a rich and prosperous realm, with countless resources and treasures. I won't disappoint you."

The green light ball revealed Dongfang Bai's face, speaking quickly.

Han Li smiled, not responding.

Ti Hou's eyes were filled with hatred as he looked at Dongfang Bai's soul.

"Han friend, I can convert to the ghost path, become a ghost servant, and serve you for life. With my current cultivation, I won't lose much strength. I can help you. Moreover, I know that the Nine Yuan Sect has sent experts to capture you. With my help, you can escape, but if you kill me, you'll soon fall into their hands."

Han Li's eyes moved slightly, hearing this.

"Master, this person is the main culprit behind Ye Su Su's death. We can't let him go! And with his soul in hand, we can search his memories." Ti Hou said urgently.

"Hmph! I have a secret technique to lock my soul, and your soul-searching technique won't work on me." Dongfang Bai sneered.

"Don't worry, master, my law is specifically designed to deal with souls. Ordinary people can't search his memories, but I can..." Ti Hou said quickly.

"Ti Hou, don't worry, I never intended to let him go. I came here today to avenge the Qing Huo clan. No matter what he says, I won't spare him. You can use the soul-searching technique, even if we don't find anything in his memories, it's fine." Han Li raised his hand, stopping Ti Hou's words.

"Thank you, master!" Ti Hou said, overjoyed.

As soon as he finished speaking, a dark light burst out from his palm, enveloping Dongfang Bai's soul.

Countless blood-red symbols jumped out from the dark light, penetrating Dongfang Bai's soul.

Dongfang Bai's mournful cry echoed from the dark light, but his soul didn't shatter.

Han Li's eyes lit up, pleased with Ti Hou's technique.

He walked to Dongfang Bai's corpse, taking a storage ring from his hand, and his divine sense entered the ring.

His face soon revealed a look of surprise, and he waved his hand.

The ground flashed, and a small pile of silver crystal stones appeared.

Han Li glanced at the half-arranged transmission array and pondered for a moment before picking up the crystal stones and continuing to insert them into the remaining pillars.

Although he didn't find any information about the transmission array in the storage ring, he was confident that Ti Hou would soon uncover the secrets.

It was better to prepare the transmission array first and wait for Ti Hou to gather the information before leaving.

It didn't take long for the remaining stone pillars inside the temple to be filled with silver crystals by Han Li.

Han Li swept his gaze around, confirming that everything was in order, and then waved his hand to activate the spell.

The next moment, a burst of silver light erupted from the spell array, and the entire temple began to hum with energy.

At the same time, the Wailing Soul's face lit up with joy, and the black light in its hand dissipated, revealing the divine soul of Dongfang Bai, who was extremely weak.

The divine soul's face was dull and expressionless, as if it had been severely damaged.

"Master, I've checked, this transmission array is connected to four places, one of which is the nearby Golden Han Celestial Palace, one is the Middle Earth Celestial Palace, and the other two..." the Wailing Soul began to say.

But at this moment, a massive silver light pillar erupted from the spell array, shooting up into the sky and illuminating the entire temple in a silver-white light.

Han Li's face changed, and he seemed to have realized something, dashing towards one of the stone pillars to grab the silver crystal.

However, just as he did, the spell array surrounding the temple flashed with a soft glow, and a crystal ball-like light shield appeared, enveloping the entire spell array and the twelve stone pillars.

Han Li's hand was too slow, and he crashed into the light shield, only to be bounced back like hitting a soft wall.

The silver light pillar inside the spell array began to glow, and two figures emerged.

The first person was tall and had fiery red hair, with skin that was also a deep red color. He had long arms and legs, and looked quite strange.

The second person was a young man wearing a golden robe, which Han Li recognized as the attire of a Celestial Inspector.

Han Li looked at the two people, and his face immediately changed, grabbing the Wailing Soul and flying out of the temple.

The person with the fiery red hair was none other than Qi Mozi, the traitorous disciple of the ancient sect that Han Li had encountered before.

Qi Mozi's aura was massive, and he was clearly a powerful cultivator in the Great Luo Realm. The young man in the golden robe, however, had a much lower cultivation level, only at the late stage of the Golden Immortal Realm.

If it were an ordinary Great Luo Realm cultivator, Han Li would have been confident in fighting him, but Qi Mozi cultivated the laws of time, and Han Li had no confidence in defeating him. Moreover, the situation was too unpredictable, and if he got stuck in a stalemate, the consequences would be dire.

Qi Mozi looked at the situation inside the temple, his face filled with surprise, and then immediately looked at Han Li, who was flying out of the temple, his brow furrowed.

But his gaze immediately flashed, and he looked at the young man in the golden robe.

"It's him!" the young man exclaimed, his eyes locking onto Han Li.

Qi Mozi's face lit up with joy, and his body began to glow with a golden light, as if he was about to fly out of the spell array.

But the crystal ball-like light shield surrounding the spell array began to fluctuate, and a powerful restrictive force burst out, freezing the space inside the spell array.

Even Qi Mozi, with his powerful cultivation, was unable to move.

Meanwhile, Han Li had already flown out of the temple with the Wailing Soul, looking back at the two people inside the spell array, especially the young man in the golden robe. He then swung his sleeve, and a burst of golden lightning erupted, enveloping the two people.

A loud crack of thunder sounded, and the two people disappeared from sight.

Qi Mozi snorted, and a golden light flashed on his body, as he took out a golden time candle, which was much larger than Han Li's. The candle's flame was also much more intense, and it seemed to be burning with a fierce energy.

The golden time candle had over 2,000 time law patterns flashing on its surface, emitting a powerful time law fluctuation that seemed to be shaking the surrounding space.

Qi Mozi pointed at the candle, and the flame erupted, releasing a wave of flame-like spiritual energy that enveloped the surrounding area.

The crystal ball-like light shield was immediately affected, its light stopping in place, as if it had been frozen. The spiritual energy inside the shield was also completely still, as if it had been petrified.

Qi Mozi, however, was not affected, and he waved his hand, releasing a golden light that struck the light shield.

The shield shattered, and Qi Mozi disappeared, leaving behind a trail of golden light.

The young man in the golden robe also flew out of the temple, but he was unable to find Han Li or Qi Mozi.

He looked around, his face filled with a mix of emotions, and then sighed, disappearing into a golden light that flew off in a different direction.

Qi Mozi reappeared outside the temple, his body glowing with a golden light, as he released a wave of golden light shadows that flew out in all directions.

His eyes flashed with excitement, and he formed a series of flame-like talismans that flew out of his body, forming a golden spell array around him.

A burst of golden flames erupted from the spell array, enveloping Qi Mozi's body, and his figure began to blur, before disappearing from sight. More than 100,000 miles away from the Golden Origin Immortal Palace, a mountain peak lit up with a flash of golden lightning, and the figures of Han Li and Ti Huo appeared from within.

"Master, who was that person just now?" Ti Huo asked, her eyes scanning the surroundings, her voice still trembling with fear.

"He is a person from the Heavenly Court's Immortal Prison, perhaps the Prison Master," Han Li replied calmly.

"Prison Master!" Ti Huo's face changed.

"Don't think about that now, this place is not safe, we need to leave immediately," Han Li said, his hands weaving a spell as he spoke.

A loud rumbling sound echoed out, and countless golden lightning arcs shot out from his body, rapidly condensing and changing to form a massive golden lightning array.

At the same time, a flash of golden light appeared in the distance, and a wave of spatial energy emanated from within.

Han Li's eyes narrowed, and he quickly pointed a finger.

The golden lightning array flared up, and Han Li and Ti Huo's figures blurred and disappeared, leaving behind only the faint remnants of the lightning array.

The golden light expanded, forming a massive golden fire array, and the figure of Qi Mozi appeared, his eyes fixed on the remnants of the lightning array as he let out a cold, mocking smile.

He closed his eyes, sensing the surroundings for a moment, before his hands weaved a spell and the golden fire array flared up.

Qi Mozi's figure disappeared, leaving behind only the faint remnants of the fire array.

In a distant location within the Golden Origin Mountains, a flash of golden lightning illuminated the air, and Han Li and Ti Huo's figures reappeared.

"Master, that Qi Mozi also knows the Spatial Transmission Technique, what should we do now?" Ti Huo asked anxiously.

Han Li's expression was not good, but his hands moved without hesitation, and he quickly cast another spell to form a lightning array.

But before he could activate the array, another flash of golden fire appeared in the distance, moving at an even faster speed than before.

"Quickly!" Han Li shouted, and he activated the lightning array to transmit himself and Ti Huo away.

As soon as they disappeared, Qi Mozi's figure reappeared, and he too activated his Spatial Transmission Technique.

The two of them continued to play a game of cat and mouse, with Han Li using his lightning array to transmit himself and Ti Huo away, while Qi Mozi used his Spatial Transmission Technique to pursue them.

Han Li was in control, but Qi Mozi seemed to be getting closer and closer, and Han Li knew that he couldn't keep this up for much longer.

In a location on the outskirts of the Golden Origin Mountains, a flash of golden lightning illuminated the air, and Han Li and Ti Huo's figures reappeared.

"Why didn't you put me in the Flower Branch Space?" Ti Huo asked, her voice low and serious.

"Because you're a living being, and you need to open the Spatial Door to enter the Flower Branch Space," Han Li replied, his eyes fixed on the surroundings.

"But Master, that person is getting closer and closer, I'm afraid we'll be caught soon," Ti Huo said, her voice trembling with fear.

"His Spatial Transmission Technique combines fire and spatial energy, similar to my lightning array," Han Li said, his eyes narrowing.

"Ah, you want to escape my pursuit? Unless you can transmit yourself over a billion miles away, you won't be able to escape me!" Qi Mozi's voice echoed out, and a flash of golden light illuminated the air.

A massive black whip shot out from the light, tearing through the air and destroying everything in its path.

The whip was incredibly fast, and it struck the lightning array with incredible force, causing it to shatter and disappear.

Han Li's eyes widened in shock, and he quickly grabbed Ti Huo and flew backward, avoiding the whip by a hair's breadth.

The whip continued to pursue them, and Han Li knew that he had to think fast if he wanted to escape.

He flew backward, using his internal energy to fuel his movements, and then punched out with his fist.

A massive golden fist shot out, striking the whip and causing it to shudder.

The whip was incredibly powerful, and it shattered the golden fist, but Han Li was not deterred.

He grabbed Ti Huo and flew backward, using his internal energy to fuel his movements, and then punched out with his fist again.

A massive golden fist shot out, striking the whip and causing it to shudder.

The whip was incredibly powerful, and it shattered the golden fist, but Han Li was not deterred.

He continued to punch out with his fists, each one striking the whip and causing it to shudder.

The whip was incredibly powerful, but Han Li's fists were relentless, and eventually, the whip began to weaken.

Finally, after what seemed like an eternity, the whip disappeared, and Han Li and Ti Huo were left standing, panting heavily.

Han Li's body was exhausted, and he knew that he couldn't keep this up for much longer.

He looked at Ti Huo, and then nodded, making a decision.

"We need to find a way to get you into the Flower Branch Space," he said, his eyes fixed on the surroundings.

Ti Huo nodded, and Han Li knew that he had to think fast if he wanted to escape Qi Mozi's pursuit.

He looked around, his eyes scanning the surroundings, and then he spotted a location in the distance.

"Let's go," he said, and he grabbed Ti Huo's hand, flying off into the distance.

Tihu's eyes were closed, her arms tightly wrapped around Han Li, and only now did she barely open them.

"Master, are you okay?" Jintong saw Han Li panting, and his face changed.

"It's fine, just a bit of exhaustion... this guy has caught up." Han Li waved his hand, and then his expression changed as he looked in a certain direction.

"Indeed, he's got some skills, not disappointing me after waiting for so long."

The golden light in the distance flashed and disappeared, and Qimozu flew out, his eyes fixed on Han Li, rubbing his hands together, and laughing.

He held a short axe in his hand, emitting a dark light, and it seemed that the black streak of energy just now was cut out by this axe.

Han Li felt Qimozu's gaze, and for some reason, he had a feeling that his whole body was being seen through.

He hurriedly circulated the Time Laws, and in an instant, he barely managed to isolate the feeling of being seen through.

"Who are you, sir? I don't think we've met before!" Han Li took a deep breath and decided to probe Qimozu's bottom line, asking aloud.

"Ah, Huo Huo, Chi Rong, those two didn't show you my image? I am Qimozu, and I'm sure you've heard of this name. No need to say more, hand over the 'Great Five Elements Fantasy World Secret', and I'll spare your life." Qimozu's eyes flashed with a fiery light, and he stepped forward, saying.

"'Great Five Elements Fantasy World Secret'? What is that, a cultivation technique?" Han Li's heart shook, but his face remained expressionless.

"Hmph! You're just like Chi Rong said, a very dishonest little guy! But it's okay if you don't admit it, as long as I extract your divine soul, I'll know after searching your soul." Qimozu sneered, and his body flew out.

Han Li's feet flashed with golden light, and he quickly retreated.

"Master, don't bring me along, let me down, and use your full strength to deal with this guy, I can take care of myself." Tihu's beautiful eyes flashed, saying.

Han Li didn't move at all.

"Heh heh, sir, you're quite good at being gentle with a beauty, but don't worry, I'm not going to kill you, I just want your divine soul!" Qimozu laughed loudly, and a layer of black flame appeared on his short axe, slashing through the air.

A black streak of energy flew out, slashing towards Han Li, its speed almost twice as fast as before, and it reached Han Li's side in an instant.

The space around the black streak of energy, within a hundred feet, seemed to shatter like a mirror, and a series of spatial cracks appeared, spreading outward.

Han Li's face turned serious, and he let out a low roar, quickly casting the True Words Treasure Wheel.

Countless golden ripples expanded, instantly covering the surrounding area, and the black streak of energy was wrapped within.

The black streak of energy stopped, but the golden ripples region also shook violently, and it was only after a while that it stabilized.

"Ah, you've actually cultivated the 'True Words Transformation Wheel' to this extent." Qimozu's face showed surprise, but he didn't care, and his black short axe rose, ready to slash again.

Just then, Han Li's body flashed with golden light, and a golden spirit domain opened, covering the surrounding area.

Qimozu was enveloped by the golden spirit domain, and his movements slowed down by more than ten times.

Han Li simultaneously cast the True Words Treasure Wheel and the Time Spirit Domain, and his body's divine energy was consumed extremely quickly, but he didn't care, his hands waving continuously.

The next moment, a dozen golden lightning woods flew out of his sleeves, and after a brief condensation, they fell to the ground, forming a circle, which was the Lightning Wood Array.

Dazzling golden lightning flashed out from the dozen lightning woods, intertwining with each other.

Qimozu saw this scene, and it seemed that he had thought of something, and the golden flames on his body surged, and then "whoosh" expanded outward, instantly forming a golden flame spirit domain, covering the surrounding area.

Han Li was enveloped by the golden flame spirit domain, and his body immediately sank, his speed slowing down by ten times, but he still stubbornly circulated the Lightning Wood Array.

The array quickly charged, and it seemed that it was about to be complete.

Qimozu let out a loud shout, and a golden light flashed in front of him, and the golden fire stick appeared.

A series of flame spirit lights expanded from the golden fire stick, and everything in their path was frozen in place, the flame spirit lights expanding at an extremely fast speed, almost instantly covering Han Li and the surrounding area.

Han Li and the surrounding Lightning Wood Array immediately froze, stopped in place, and even the True Words Treasure Wheel and the surrounding golden ripples were frozen, completely suppressed.

Qimozu's face relaxed, and his black short axe flashed with dark light, and a dark streak of energy slashed towards Han Li's body.

Just as the dark streak of energy was about to hit, Han Li's body flashed with golden light, and a golden jade bottle appeared on his left side, containing half a bottle of half-transparent golden liquid, flashing with faint light, and on his right side, a golden hourglass appeared, with countless golden sand particles floating inside.

A golden fire stick appeared in front of him, burning with golden flames, and behind him, a small golden tree appeared.

The five Time Divine Arts released golden light, resonating with each other, and the time laws on them lit up, releasing a powerful and complete time law fluctuation.

Fifty time law crystals flew out from the True Words Treasure Wheel and other objects, forming a golden ring, rapidly rotating, and releasing a devouring force.

Qimozu's Broken Time Domain suddenly trembled, and a series of flame spirit lights flew out, entering the golden ring.

Han Li's body flashed with golden light, and he let out a loud roar, his body bursting with divine energy. What! Qimozi's face changed in shock.

Han Li immediately recovered, and the surrounding lightning array also regained its vitality.

He immediately pinched his fingers, and the golden lightning array flashed, instantly condensing into shape.

"Swift!" Han Li's hand gesture immediately accelerated.

Boom!

The dazzling golden lightning burst forth from the lightning array, enveloping Han Li and Ti Hu.

As the golden lightning flashed, the void also violently fluctuated, generating waves like ripples on the surface of water, spreading outward.

Qimozi sensed this, and his eyes widened in fury, his face revealing a crazed expression, as the black short axe in his hand burst forth with light.

Boom! The short axe suddenly grew ten times larger, transforming into a massive black axe.

A violent, law-defying energy burst forth from the axe, and the void nearby began to collapse as the black light flashed.

Qimozi grasped the axe with both hands and swung it down at the lightning array.

Boom! A massive, hundred-meter-wide, ten-li-long black energy blade slashed out, shattering the void wherever it passed, generating a series of spatial whirlpools that swept across the surrounding area.

The sky instantly turned dark, and black clouds emerged, as fierce winds howled.

But Qimozi's attack was slightly late!

The black axe's energy was immense, but the lightning array's movements were even faster.

Just as the sound of thunder boomed, Han Li and Ti Hu's figures vanished into the lightning.

The black energy blade swept in, instantly tearing apart the lightning array, and the ten or so Jumu trees were completely shattered.

Qimozi's face fell, and he coldly snorted before retracting his axe, closing his eyes to sense.

After a moment, he opened his eyes, his face dark and cold, but then returned to normal.

"Heh heh, the Great Five Elements Phantom Realm Technique is indeed in your hands... This technique, once mastered, can absorb the power of time itself, truly worthy of being the strongest time-based technique!" Qimozi's eyes gleamed with excitement as he chuckled.

As he spoke, he waved his sleeve, and his body transformed into a golden rainbow, flying towards the Golden Source Immortal Palace.

...

Deep within the Golden Source mountain range, countless miles away from the Golden Source Immortal Palace.

A massive, golden mountain peak had an internal chamber, a several-zhang-sized stone room.

The stone room's walls were inscribed with spiritual patterns, emitting various colors of light.

A golden lightning array was set up on the floor, with ten or so golden lightning trees inserted around it, flashing with golden lightning.

Suddenly, the golden lightning array flashed, and a massive, golden light pillar burst forth, shooting towards the sky.

The spiritual patterns on the stone room's walls immediately lit up, and multiple layers of restrictive light screens appeared, flashing with various symbols, emitting waves of law-defying energy, blocking the golden lightning pillar.

The golden light pillar persisted for a few breaths before dissipating, revealing three figures inside: Han Li and Ti Hu.

"Where is this?" Ti Hu, now recovered, looked around in surprise.

"I set up this Jumu lightning array here before heading to the Golden Source Immortal Palace, just in case. I didn't expect to actually use it. This place is extremely far from the Golden Source Immortal Palace, and Qimozi's teleportation technique won't be able to find it." Han Li pinched his fingers, retracting the five time-based divine abilities surrounding him, and slowly spoke.

As he finished speaking, his brow furrowed, and he stumbled, almost falling to the ground, with a trace of blood on his lips.

"Master, you're injured!" Ti Hu hastily supported Han Li, exclaiming.

"I was too focused on controlling the lightning array and didn't have time to defend myself, so I was hit by Qimozi's axe energy. It injured my internal organs." Han Li waved his hand, taking out a green pill and swallowing it.

"This Qimozi is indeed formidable. If not for Master's prior preparations, we would have been in big trouble... Your injury doesn't seem light, why don't we rest here for a while?" Ti Hu said.

"The lightning array's activation was quite loud, and although I set up restrictions around us, it's possible that someone with ill intentions might have noticed. Let's leave here first." Han Li waved his hand, emitting a green light, and the lightning array on the ground disappeared.

The stone room's surroundings also flew out, and Han Li collected the array flags.

Han Li waved his hand, putting the items away, and pinched his fingers.

A golden lightning array reappeared around the two, and with a thunderous boom, their figures vanished into the lightning once more.

The Jin Yuan mountain range, a remote mountain peak, was shrouded in dark clouds, with a steady drizzle falling from the sky.

A loud thunderclap echoed through the air!

In the midst of the dark clouds, a silver flash of lightning intertwined with the clouds, and a brilliant lightning array flashed into existence, only to disappear in an instant.

As the lightning faded, two figures fell from the sky, landing with a thud on the peak's dense forest.

The sound of impact echoed through the air, as ancient trees, thick as several men, snapped and broke, until the two figures finally stopped rolling and collapsed beside a massive boulder.

"Master!"

A urgent cry rang out, as a black-clad girl, ignoring her own injuries, quickly helped the battered blue-robed man to his feet.

"I'm fine, my injuries are under control, but this ordeal has left me exhausted, both physically and spiritually." The blue-robed man wiped the rain from his face, and smiled wryly.

The man was none other than Han Li, who had fled from the Jin Yuan Immortal Palace to this place.

"That Qi Mozi is truly despicable, taking advantage of Master's weakened state after his battle with Dong Fang Bai..." The black-clad girl, Ti Huan, complained, but was cut off by Han Li.

"As the saying goes, 'man plans, but heaven decides'. I didn't expect Qi Mozi to show up. We're not safe yet, we need to rest for a while, then continue on our way." Han Li took a deep breath, and said.

Ti Huan nodded silently, and remained quiet.

Han Li took out a medicinal pill, and swallowed it, then sat down cross-legged, and began to meditate.

A short while later, he opened his eyes, and stood up, his eyes gleaming with a hint of spiritual energy. Ti Huan, who had been sitting nearby, quickly stood up, and approached him.

"Master, this time, aside from Qi Mozi, we need to be prepared for more pursuers. Before we attacked the Jin Yuan Immortal Palace, Dong Fang Bai had contact with a powerful being from the Jiu Yuan Observatory, who said they would send the Lan siblings to capture us." Ti Huan spoke quickly.

"The Lan siblings..." Han Li murmured.

"They seem to be quite powerful, Dong Fang Bai's memories of them are limited, but he trusts them." Ti Huan added.

"Regardless, we've already killed Dong Fang Bai, and we don't need to entangle ourselves with them again. It's best to leave here as soon as possible. The Jin Yuan Immortal Palace's influence is mainly concentrated in the western part of the Jin Yuan mountain range, while the central and eastern parts are controlled by various immortal sects and aristocratic families. It's a complex web of power, and we can easily hide our tracks there. Let's head there first." Han Li shook his head, and said.

"Alright!" Ti Huan nodded, and replied.

"Ti Huan, to avoid being tracked, I'll temporarily seal my spiritual energy, and use my physical body to travel as quickly as possible, hiding my spiritual energy fluctuations. You should stay in the flower branch cave, and rest." Han Li said, and with a wave of his hand, a silver light door opened.

Ti Huan didn't say anything, and quickly entered the light door, returning to the bamboo pavilion.

Han Li closed the light door, and looked up at the sky, his body suddenly rising into the air, as he leapt into the clouds.

...

Two years passed.

In the central part of the Jin Yuan mountain range, a small, unassuming mountain valley, called Qing Si Valley, was nestled among the winding mountains.

In this valley, there was a small, secluded village, called Yu Liang Village, where several hundred villagers lived, rarely interacting with the outside world.

On this particular night, the village was bustling with activity, as all the villagers, dressed in their finest clothes, carried torches, and beat drums, as they made their way to the foot of a nearby mountain.

On the stretchers they carried, were old men with white hair, all of whom appeared to be on the brink of death.

Among the villagers, a tall, blue-robed man stood out, looking somewhat out of place.

He walked alongside the village head, and asked, "Village head, where are we going?"

The village head, who appeared to be a young man, but with eyes that seemed aged, hesitated, before responding, "We're going to the White Head Valley, behind the mountain."

The blue-robed man, who was addressed as Han Daifu, was none other than Han Li, who had been hiding in the village for the past half month.

He had arrived in the village by chance, and had helped to cure a plague that had been afflicting the villagers, earning their gratitude, and staying on as a traveling doctor. Han Li didn't want to linger here, but after staying in the village for two days, he discovered some unusual things, such as the village chief in front of him, who looked like he was only in his 40s, but was actually over 500 years old.

Even though the lifespan of ordinary people in the immortal realm was long, it was usually only around 200 years, and without a spiritual root, he shouldn't be able to live more than twice the lifespan of an ordinary person. This was clearly abnormal.

However, what was even more unusual was that there were more people like the village chief, who had lived for hundreds of years.

"White Haired Valley... what's going on there?" Han Li asked in confusion.

"Never mind, Doctor Han has helped us drive away the plague, and is considered a lifesaver for our village. I won't hide it from you. Look at the people being carried on the bamboo stretcher, how old do you think they are?" The village chief stopped and said.

"From their appearance, I'd say they're around 150 years old?" Han Li pretended to think and guessed.

"Not bad, they're indeed around 150 years old, but in reality, they're my juniors. I'm already 513 years old." The village chief nodded and said.

"What?" Han Li feigned shock and said.

"Doctor Han, don't be too surprised. There are people in the village like me, or even older than me." The village chief saw Han Li's expression and chuckled, patting his shoulder.

"Is it... did you all obtain some kind of spiritual medicine or immortal technique?" Han Li asked.

"Where did you get that idea? It's all thanks to the clear spring in White Haired Valley." The village chief shook his head and continued walking.

"Clear spring? What kind of spring water can make people live so long?" Han Li asked in surprise.

"I'm not too sure myself. This clear spring is very strange, it only appears once every hundred years. Every time it appears, we'll carry the villagers who are on the brink of death into the valley, and have them soak in the spring water for a day and a night, then bring them back." The village chief said.

"Is it... can you really regain your youth by soaking in the spring water?" Han Li raised an eyebrow and asked.

"It's not that simple. This spiritual spring is also unpredictable, sometimes it can make people regain their youth, but sometimes it can also make them wither away. It all depends on luck." The village chief said.

"I see... " Han Li nodded, seeming to understand.

"Doctor Han, you're currently in your prime, don't try this. This spiritual spring can make people regain their youth, but it can't cure illnesses. If someone gets a serious disease, they'll still die. I'm telling you this because I want to keep you in our village, to help us treat various illnesses, and in the future, we can all enjoy a long lifespan together." The village chief said.

"Doctor Han is just a wandering doctor, it's an honor to receive the village chief's praise, but this is a big decision for me. Can I think about it for a day or two before giving an answer?" Han Li said with a difficult expression.

"Ha ha, no problem, Doctor Han can take his time." The village chief also laughed and said.

The two of them followed the crowd and continued walking, chatting about ordinary things. The village chief asked Han Li about his family, and if he had married.

As they spoke, he wanted to introduce a young girl from the village who was over 100 years old, but still looked like a maiden, to Han Li. Han Li was left speechless.

The crowd finally arrived at White Haired Valley, and it was already midnight. The valley was quiet and still, with only the sound of drums and cymbals. The villagers all looked solemn, their eyes filled with reverence.

As they entered the valley, Han Li saw two giant boulders, leaning against each other, forming a human-shaped space. Below it was a clear spring, about ten feet in diameter.

The water in the spring was crystal clear, and even in the moonlight and firelight, you could see the mud and leaves at the bottom, as well as the bubbling spring water.

The crowd gathered around the spring, clasping their hands together in prayer, while the village chief began to recite a ritual text.

Han Li took advantage of the distraction to quietly scoop up some water from the spring, and examined it carefully. He raised an eyebrow, seeming to notice something.

The village chief then ordered the villagers to carry the elderly people into the spring, and they were placed in the water with great care.

The elderly people all closed their eyes and sat cross-legged, as the water rippled around them. The village chief then led the crowd in bowing three times to the spring, and they all left the valley, waiting for the next day to see the results.

On the way back, the villagers were no longer solemn, and they quickly returned to the village. Han Li bid farewell to the village chief and returned to his hut.

However, just half an hour later, a figure flashed out of the hut and disappeared into the village.

Before long, a man in a green robe appeared in the White-Haired Valley. It was none other than Han Li.

When he had heard the village elder mention the Spring of Luminous Eyes earlier, he had felt that it was not ordinary, and that the power of the Time Laws it contained had changed the villagers' physical bodies to some extent, causing them to appear youthful or withered.

If he were to cultivate the Great Five Elements Illusory Realm Technique here, he might be able to break through in a shorter amount of time, and his chances of dealing with the Heavenly Court's pursuers, such as Qi Mozi, would increase.

However, the Time Laws in the spring water seemed to be unstable, and according to the village elder, they would only appear once every hundred years, and the time would not be long. If Han Li wanted to utilize them, he would have to find the source of the Time Laws' power.

After entering the valley, Han Li did not immediately head to the depths of the valley, but instead examined the rugged and rocky terrain on both sides.

After a moment, he discovered something strange. Many of the rocks scattered about had golden characters and talismans engraved on them.

Some of the talismans were still intact, while others were broken and worn, but none of them had any remaining spiritual energy.

"No wonder I sensed a faint fluctuation of the Time Laws earlier, but couldn't feel it when I arrived at the White-Haired Valley. The concealment effect of these talismans is quite good, and even though they're broken, they still have an effect."

Han Li's eyes lit up as he stroked a talisman on a large rock. He suddenly had an idea - since the concealment effect was so strong, why not hide here?

For the past two years, Han Li had been running from the Heavenly Court and the Jiuyuan Sect, leaving behind fake trails and decoys to confuse his pursuers. However, he had never been able to truly shake them off.

With his mind made up, Han Li began to carefully examine the valley, occasionally stretching out his hand to mimic the talismans on the rocks.

By the time the sky turned white, he had finished his work and sat down on a large rock, exhausted.

After a night of work, Han Li had restored most of the broken talismans and moved the rocks to their original positions, restoring the valley's original appearance.

As the array was completed, a mist began to rise from the valley, covering the entire area in a layer of white fog.

Han Li flew into the air and examined the valley with his spiritual sense, discovering that even the faint fluctuation of the Time Laws he had sensed earlier had disappeared.

If even his own spiritual sense couldn't detect anything unusual, then it was likely that no one else could either.

Han Li descended back into the valley and headed towards the depths of the valley, where the Spring of Luminous Eyes was located.

As he entered the valley once more, he saw the two large rocks that formed a human-like shape, and his eyes narrowed as he noticed that the spring water was also shrouded in a layer of white mist.

The mist was condensed and did not dissipate, and Han Li's spiritual sense detected that it was not just ordinary mist.

He flew forward, his eyes fixed on the spring water, and saw several old men lying on the ground, their bodies withered and gray.

Their clothes were quickly decaying, and their bodies were revealing their skeletal remains.

"Looks like they weren't lucky this time..." Han Li sighed.

He reached out a hand and stirred the water, feeling a refreshing sensation, but nothing else.

Just as he was about to withdraw his hand, he sensed a faint flow of warm water emerging from the depths of the spring, enveloping his hand.

The water felt smoother than the surrounding water, and Han Li detected a fluctuation of the Time Laws.

His hand began to grow and shed hair rapidly, and he smiled, "It seems that the Time Laws can accelerate the flow of time. There must be something extraordinary hidden here."

He gathered the seven or eight skeletons and placed them at the edge of the pool, then stepped into the pool himself. Han Li arrived at the spring's edge, bent down, and reached out with his hand to search around. After a moment, he moved the small stones aside, but all that was revealed was a small opening buried in the mud at the bottom of the pool, with nothing unusual about it.

"This doesn't seem right," Han Li said, his face full of doubt as he looked up at the two massive stones above. Upon closer inspection, he noticed that the two stones, which were arranged in a human-like shape, had a circular symbol carved into each side, but there was no spiritual energy emanating from them.

Han Li's eyes narrowed, and a purple light flashed in his eyes. When he looked at the symbols again, he noticed a change.

Inside the two circular symbols, a golden light seemed to be flowing, like two golden fish swimming in opposite directions. Han Li's heart stirred, and he rose into the air, placing his hands on the symbols.

His body began to glow with a soft, golden light as he activated the Five Elements Phantom World Technique. The golden light flowed from his hands, connecting with the symbols and causing them to rotate rapidly. The symbols' centers lit up, and a golden light burst forth, creating a golden screen that blocked the space between the two stones.

Han Li had already retreated to the outside of the stones, looking at the golden light screen that had appeared out of nowhere. He hesitated for a moment, then looked up at the sky, which was starting to brighten.

With a determined look, Han Li activated his protective aura and the True Extreme Membrane, and then flashed into the golden screen.

The screen vanished, and the pool returned to its calm state. After a while, the water began to seep into the ground, and the spring stopped flowing.

The pool eventually dried up, leaving behind only a few skeletons lying on the rocks.

...

In the western part of the Golden Source Mountains, a lone mountain peak stood tall.

A red-haired man with large hands and feet, and strange markings on his skin, stood on the mountain peak. He was gazing into the distance, with flames erupting from his head.

This was Qimozi, who had been tracking Han Li.

"This is the 136th puppet," Qimozi said, looking at the shattered puppet at his feet. "He's left behind a blood essence, but also set up a blood seal. Once the puppet is destroyed, the blood essence will be burned, leaving no trace behind. How can he be so cunning?"

Qimozi turned to a young man standing behind him, who was none other than Xiongshan, the former vice sect leader of the Zhulong Sect.

"Sir, I've had personal experience with Han Li's cunning," Xiongshan said, his face clouding over. "I never thought he would grow so quickly, becoming a major threat to the Heavenly Court."

Qimozi's eyes narrowed. "I was thinking of capturing him quietly, but he dared to attack the Golden Source Sect and kill Dongfang Bai. Now, the Heavenly Court will surely take notice of him."

Qimozi's expression turned cold. "I no longer need to hide my tracks. I can openly pursue him in the name of the Heavenly Court."

Xiongshan hesitated. "Sir, judging from his trail, he seems to be heading towards the central region of the Golden Source Sect. However, the forces there are complex, and it may be difficult to pursue him..."

Qimozi snorted. "The Heavenly Court has been dissatisfied with the Golden Source Sect for some time. If any of the sects dare to intervene, it will be a perfect opportunity to teach them a lesson. But those sect leaders are cunning, and they will likely avoid getting involved."

Qimozi paused, then nodded. "You're right. Han Li usually acts alone, so he won't be hiding in any of the sects. We should focus on searching for areas where the sects' influences intersect or are weak."

Qimozi fell silent, then nodded in agreement with Xiongshan's suggestion.

"Let's go," Qimozi said, his eyes gleaming with determination. "I want to see how far he can run!"

With a wave of his hand, a fiery red flying shuttle appeared, and Qimozi and Xiongshan leapt into the air, disappearing into the distance.

Han Li's body was instantly restrained by a powerful force of law as he crossed the golden light screen. His entire body was wrapped in golden threads, and he was suspended in mid-air, unable to move.

He glanced down and saw that he was above a lush and dense forest, which seemed to be only a few hundred miles wide. The edges were shrouded in a thick gray mist, and it was clear that this was a small, secret realm.

In the forest, the trees were dense, and he could see a winding path made of bluestone that led to a golden mansion in the distance.

"Such a dense temporal law!" Han Li exclaimed, looking at the golden threads wrapped around his body.

The feeling was as if he was being restrained by the True Speech Treasure Wheel, but his mind was not affected. Instead, his body was being cut by the sharp golden threads, although they had not broken through, they still felt extremely painful.

As he pondered, his expression suddenly changed, and he saw that two massive golden figures had appeared in the distance, charging towards him with a loud roar.

Han Li looked closely and saw that they were two giant tigers with golden fur, as if they had been cast in gold. They had two golden wings on their sides, but they were relatively small compared to their massive bodies and could not fly.

As they charged forward, their golden wings flapped continuously, and their bodies slowly rose into the air, charging towards Han Li.

"These are... metal beasts?" Han Li muttered to himself.

These strange beasts were not actually beasts, but were formed from the condensation of pure gold attribute primordial energy. In this golden source mountain range, they were extremely difficult to deal with.

As he thought, the True Speech Treasure Wheel in his body began to reverse, and the temporal law force began to fluctuate, trying to reach a balance with the golden threads wrapped around his body.

As the temporal law force in his body surged out, the golden threads wrapped around his body began to release themselves, but the speed was slow.

Only after a dozen breaths, Han Li still had hundreds of golden threads wrapped around his body, and the two metal beasts had already arrived in front of him.

The two metal beasts opened their mouths wide, revealing sharp golden teeth, and bit down on Han Li's head and waist.

Just as their mouths were about to bite down, a silver firebird suddenly burst out of Han Li's shoulder, transforming into a giant silver firebird with wings that blazed with fierce flames, striking the two metal beasts.

The two metal beasts were hit head-on, and their bodies were pressed down to the ground.

The metal beasts let out a loud roar, and their mouths opened wide, biting down on the silver firebird's wings.

The silver firebird let out a loud cry, and its wings were torn apart, with large pieces of flame being ripped off.

The metal beasts chewed on the flames, and their bodies seemed to be unaffected by the intense heat.

Han Li saw this and raised an eyebrow. The silver firebird's flames were extremely powerful, and he was surprised that the metal beasts could withstand them.

However, he did not look any further, and instead focused on using the True Speech Treasure Wheel to reverse the temporal law force, trying to balance it with the golden threads wrapped around his body.

The silver firebird, after being bitten by the metal beasts, did not retreat. Instead, it spread its wings and dived down, crashing into the metal beasts like a fireball.

The metal beasts were surrounded by a fierce silver flame, and the temperature inside the flame increased rapidly, causing the metal beasts' bodies to emit a faint golden mist.

Han Li saw this and remembered that the metal beasts were formed from the condensation of pure gold attribute primordial energy. The mist that was emitted was likely the same energy.

Just then, the two metal beasts let out a loud roar and charged towards each other, colliding head-on.

The sound of the collision was like thunder, and a blinding golden light flashed out, carrying an intense force that cut through the surrounding silver flames.

The two metal beasts broke free from the silver flames and escaped. The Yin Flame Bird was split in two, with the two flames rushing to recombine, but a layer of golden light prevented them from merging.

The metal beast, now out of control, ignored the Yin Flame Bird and charged towards Han Li, its four legs pounding the ground as it let out a deafening roar.

Han Li, however, had already broken free from the golden threads that bound him. With a single glance, he took a step forward, his arms vibrating as he activated the Great Strength Golden Ape technique.

A burst of starlight erupted from his arms, and two massive fists imbued with crystal energy crashed down onto the metal beasts' foreheads, producing a deafening "clang" sound.

The two metal beasts were sent crashing to the ground, their bodies trembling under the force of Han Li's blows. The earth shook beneath their impact, and the air was filled with the sound of their collapse.

Han Li descended from the sky, glancing at the Yin Flame Bird, which was still trying to recombine. He then chased after the metal beasts, delivering a flurry of punches that sent them tumbling to the ground.

The earth shook beneath the relentless barrage of punches, and the sound of Han Li's blows echoed through the air. After over a hundred punches, the ground was scarred and battered, and Han Li finally stopped, fearing that he would damage the secret realm's foundation.

However, when he stopped, he noticed that the metal beasts were nowhere to be seen. Han Li flew down into the crater, only to discover that the two metal beasts had escaped through a tunnel they had dug.

"Let's go and get revenge, then we'll find a way to remove the golden light and restore you to your original state," Han Li said, his mind connecting with the Yin Flame Bird.

The bird ceased its attempts to recombine and transformed into two small silver birds, which perched on Han Li's shoulders.

Han Li glanced at the tunnel entrance, his divine sense probing the interior before he flew in.

The tunnel was damp and musty, filled with the scent of damp earth. Han Li traversed the tunnel for over ten miles, his nose wrinkled in distaste, before coming across a fork in the road.

As he approached the fork, his brow furrowed in surprise. The tunnel he had been following intersected with a larger, smoother tunnel that seemed to have been excavated long ago.

A warm breeze emanated from the larger tunnel, and Han Li sensed that it was incredibly hot. A sly smile spread across his face as he said, "Ah, little one, you're in for a treat..."

With a flick of his body, Han Li entered the larger tunnel, his eyes scanning the area before he moved forward.

The tunnel twisted and turned, stretching for over ten miles before opening up into a vast underground chamber. Han Li emerged from the tunnel, his eyes widening as he took in the sight before him.

A massive, hundred-yard-wide pool of five-colored flames dominated the center of the chamber, its surface churning with waves of intense heat. The two metal beasts that had escaped earlier were now feasting on a massive golden mineral, their bodies glowing with a golden aura as they devoured the mineral.

The metal beasts' eyes locked onto Han Li, and they immediately became alert, their bodies tensing as they prepared to attack. However, they seemed to recall Han Li's previous display of strength and hesitated, choosing not to charge forward.

"Ah, I see," Han Li said, a smile spreading across his face. "No wonder they were able to withstand the flames. They must have been living near this five-colored flame pool and feeding on the golden minerals."

The two silver birds on Han Li's shoulders seemed to sense the power of the flame pool and began to flutter excitedly.

"Go ahead," Han Li said, his voice filled with amusement.

The two silver birds spread their wings and dived towards the flame pool, their forms blurring as they descended. The two metal beasts, sensing the birds' approach, immediately sprang into action, their bodies launching into the air as they prepared to attack.

"Get down!" Han Li bellowed, his eyes flashing with anger.

With a swift movement, Han Li appeared beneath the metal beasts, his hands grasping their tails as he yanked them back down to the ground.

The metal beasts crashed to the earth, their bodies rolling wildly as they struggled to free themselves. Han Li's body began to glow with a golden aura as his true spirit blood vessels activated, and he transformed into a massive golden ape.

The ape's massive hands pressed down on the metal beasts' heads, pinning them to the ground. The metal beasts' bodies thrashed about, their tails flailing wildly as they tried to break free, but Han Li's grip was unyielding.

Han Li's transformed golden fur giant ape's two massive palms pressed down on the two metal beasts, its eyes flickering slightly.

If he really wanted to kill the two beasts, he had plenty of ways to do so, but he was hesitant at the moment, and had the idea of taking in the two strange beasts as guardians of the Flower Branch Cave Heaven.

Just as he was hesitating, the two metal beasts' long tails suddenly connected, and two dazzling golden lights appeared at the same time. The two metal beasts' bodies suddenly liquefied and merged into one, and in the blink of an eye, they transformed into a massive golden tiger.

After merging, the golden wings on the metal beast's back grew several times larger, but compared to its body size, they still seemed a bit out of proportion.

"Still able to merge, worthy of being a true and pure gold-attributed yuan qi heavenly beast!" Han Li exclaimed, feeling the beast's aura surge.

The metal beast's aura surged, and its temper seemed to worsen, letting out a loud roar as it pounced towards Han Li.

But just as it did, a sudden change occurred!

The colorful flames in the pool behind it erupted violently, and a massive flame bird with wings spread wide flew out of the pool, its beak pointed downwards.

Han Li's words were cut off, and the flame bird's sharp beak had already bitten the metal beast in two, and then swallowed it whole.

"Pity..."

Han Li's hand was still raised in a stopping motion, but it was too late.

The flame bird looked at Han Li with a tilted head, seemingly not understanding his intentions.

"Never mind, never mind, since you've eaten it, it's fine. In the future, when I find Xiao Bai, I'll let him take care of the place, it's not bad," Han Li said with a forced smile, waving his hand.

As he spoke, he withdrew his True Spirit Bloodline power and returned to his human form.

The massive flame bird also shrunk down, and with the colorful flames, it came to the edge of the pool.

Han Li walked forward, and saw that the flame bird was holding a wing, and on it were four round beads the size of dragon eye nuclei, with colors of yellow, green, blue, and red, matching the colors of the pool's flames.

The four beads shone brightly, emitting waves of scorching heat.

"Seven-colored fire dan sand, there's so much of it?" Han Li exclaimed.

The flame bird opened and closed its beak several times, but made no sound, and Han Li understood its meaning:

"You're saying that there's still one red dan sand, which you've eaten?"

The flame bird nodded its head enthusiastically, and the flames in the pool also surged with excitement.

"Ha ha, that's good. If you can refine and absorb all of these seven-colored fire dan sand, your flame power will increase again, and even the legendary Heaven-burning Earth-refining won't be impossible," Han Li said with a laugh.

The flame bird was overjoyed, and its body fell backwards, lying down in the pool like a swimmer, and without moving its wings, it slid backwards with a contented expression.

"You refine those fire dan sand well, I'll go check if there are any other mechanisms, if anything unexpected happens, immediately contact me with your spirit, I'll come find you," Han Li said after a moment of thought.

The flame bird jumped out of the pool and dove back in, indicating that it understood.

Han Li checked the surroundings of the colorful flames pool for a while, and found nothing out of the ordinary, before turning to leave through the tunnel.

After passing through a hundred-meter-long underground tunnel, the terrain gradually rose, and Han Li walked out of the tunnel.

Outside the tunnel, Han Li walked out from behind a screen at the entrance, and entered a golden great hall.

The great hall was empty, with no decorations, only three round white jade cushions in the center, with ring-shaped patterns engraved on them, layered like a maze.

Han Li stared at it for a while, and felt a bit dizzy, before regaining his composure.

"Interesting..."

He smiled and said, walking forward to examine it closely, and found that the three white jade cushions were connected to the ground, and couldn't be moved.

However, apart from that, there was nothing unusual, and no matter how he used his spiritual sense or tried to probe with his immortal energy, the three white jade cushions remained still, without any changes.

Han Li looked at it for a while, and then lost interest, pushing open the door and leaving.

Outside the hall, he found himself in the golden buildings he had seen from afar.

The great hall was surrounded by a white stone plaza, with a stone sundial in the center, and nothing else. At the other end of the White Stone Square, there was a grand and majestic gate that led to a large mansion.

Han Li did not hurry to leave the mansion, instead, he walked along the road beside the grand hall, passed through a circular archway, and entered a garden filled with flowers and trees.

Inside the garden, there were many rare and exotic plants, including some that were in full bloom, emitting a gentle and ethereal glow. The flowers were a vibrant mix of colors, swaying gently in the breeze.

Han Li stepped into the garden, and his expression changed slightly, as if he had sensed something. He felt a hint of the Time Law's power, just like he had when he was by the spring earlier.

However, this power was dispersed and faint, and Han Li couldn't pinpoint its location, even with his full concentration. He could only sense that it was emanating from the flowers around him, but it was too subtle to grasp.

Han Li randomly plucked a nine-petaled purple flower and examined it carefully. He found that it only had a small amount of spiritual energy remaining, and no Time Law power.

"This is indeed strange," Han Li sighed, continuing on his way.

After passing through the garden, he came to a small, independent courtyard with three rooms: a left wing, a right wing, and a central main hall.

Han Li entered the left wing first, and found that the interior was simple, with only a few bookshelves against the walls, filled with stacks of books.

He randomly took down a book and flipped through it, only to find that it was not a profound or ancient text, but rather a collection of ordinary poetry and essays.

Han Li's curiosity was piqued, and he took down another book, only to find that it was a novel of romantic fiction.

"Ha ha, it seems that the master of this immortal mansion has a wide range of interests," Han Li said to himself, chuckling.

He spent a short time in the room, which seemed to be used as a study, before exiting and heading to the right wing.

The room was filled with various trinkets and ornaments, including gold and silver decorations, jade and porcelain vessels, but not a single magical artifact or immortal tool.

Han Li browsed through the room, and couldn't help but feel a sense of disappointment at the master's taste in collecting such gaudy and ostentatious items.

Finally, he came to the central main hall, where he found a large, half-person-high furnace, with two wooden racks on either side, filled with various bottles and jars.

Han Li examined the furnace and found that the fire had long since gone out, but the bottles on the racks contained a variety of medicinal pills, including some of the highest quality.

"Finally, I've found something worthwhile," Han Li said, collecting all the pills.

As he was about to leave, he suddenly frowned, his eyes fixed on the furnace.

"What's this?"

Han Li's heart stirred, and he sensed a faint spiritual energy emanating from the furnace.

He walked over, lifted the furnace lid, and was met with a burst of golden light, which contained a strong Time Law energy.

Han Li's eyes widened, and he saw that the furnace contained ten golden pills, each the size of a dragon's eye.

He carefully picked up one of the pills and examined it, only to find that it was not yet fully formed, and its power was still dispersed.

"This is strange," Han Li thought to himself. "The master of this immortal mansion must have been interrupted or distracted, why didn't he finish refining these pills?"

Han Li hesitated for a moment, then put the pill back, and closed the furnace lid.

He then thought of summoning the Fire Bird to help him refine the pills, but remembered that it was currently busy refining the Seven-Color Fire Sand.

Han Li smiled wryly, and instead used his own internal fire to ignite the furnace.

The flames burned brightly, and after 49 days, the furnace finally produced a golden mist that condensed into a spirit fungus-like shape.

Han Li sat cross-legged beside the furnace, watching the scene unfold, and couldn't help but exclaim:

"Ah, it's a Flowing Fire Spirit Fungus! No wonder the Time Law energy is so dense. It's been left here for who knows how many years, and yet it still has such a strong potential for refinement."

Han Li then waved his hand, and the flames died down, before opening the furnace lid to reveal the results.

Seven of the pills had been successfully refined, each with four Dao patterns on its surface, emitting a strong Time Law energy.

Han Li's eyes shone with excitement, knowing that with these pills, he could make great progress in his cultivation of the Five Elements Fantasy Realm Technique.

Han Li was overjoyed, and with a wave of his hand, the seven golden pills flew out of the furnace, forming a string that he caught in a small, palm-sized sheep fat jade bottle.

After storing the bottle, he took a deep breath and turned to leave the hall.

As he walked out of the hall, Han Li's eyes scanned the surroundings, and with a flick of his wrist, a silver light flashed beside him, and a silver door slowly opened, revealing a figure walking out.

"Master, this is..." the figure said, looking around.

"We are currently in an unknown xianfu secret realm, and for the time being, it's relatively safe," Han Li said. "I plan to close my doors for a while, and if I can make some progress in my cultivation, I'll have more ways to protect myself when facing the pursuit of the xian palace."

"As we caused a great disturbance in the Jin Yuan Xian Palace and killed the palace master, I'm afraid the news has already spread throughout the xian domain," Han Li said. "The heavenly court will not let us off easily, and they will definitely send out powerful cultivators like Qi Mo. Staying here is the most stable option. Master, you can rest assured and close your doors, and I will protect you."

Han Li pointed to a distant, high-altitude location, where a faint crack was visible in the clouds. "The entrance to this secret realm is over there, and the surrounding area is filled with the original xianfu's restrictions. You only need to pay attention to that area, and you don't need to guard it all the time."

"Okay, I'll guard the front square and cultivate while protecting you," the figure replied.

"By the way, your aura seems to have increased significantly," Han Li said, noticing the change in the figure.

"Master's keen eyes," the figure said with a smile. "Since I woke up earlier, I've felt a strand of faint, yet growing, law energy within me. However, it's accompanied by a constant, unfulfilled hunger."

"Hunger?" Han Li asked, puzzled.

"I'm not sure, but I feel a emptiness in my abdomen, and it only improved slightly after devouring those ghostly creatures," the figure said. "If we encounter more ghost cultivators in the future, we can try again."

"Alright, I'll go to the front hall to close my doors, and the rest is up to you," Han Li said with a smile.

The two of them walked through the garden and arrived at the front hall.

The figure went straight to the sundial in the center of the square and sat down, while Han Li turned and entered the hall.

The hall's furnishings were the same as before, except for the screen that blocked the entrance to the five-colored fire pool. Han Li sat down on the middle white jade cushion.

After a moment of quiet breathing, he opened his eyes, and with a flick of his wrist, he took out the sheep fat jade bottle and poured out a golden pill, which he swallowed.

The pill entered his abdomen, and a rich, law energy immediately emerged, spreading throughout his body.

Han Li closed his eyes and focused his mind, quickly activating the Da Wu Xing Huan Shi Jue cultivation technique to guide the law energy into his body.

A moment later, he opened his eyes, and a look of surprise flashed across his face.

The white jade cushion beneath him began to glow with a golden light, and the other two cushions also began to shine.

The entire hall was filled with a golden light, as if it had been poured with a layer of golden liquid.

Han Li felt himself being enveloped by a special, time-related law energy, and he was trapped in a strange, indescribable realm.

He was delighted and quickly focused his mind, using his cultivation technique to activate the five types of time law manifestations.

The five manifestations, including the Zhen Yan Bao Lun, the Guang Yin Jing Ping, and the Dong Yi Shen Mu, appeared around him, each with over 1,600 Dao patterns flashing on their surface.

The powerful, time-related law energy emanating from the manifestations made Han Li's heart tremble with excitement.

As the manifestations appeared, the golden light surrounding the hall began to close in, forming a large, golden flower bud that enveloped Han Li.

Han Li felt the time law energy entering his body, and his heart was filled with an unprecedented sense of joy.

He knew that this secret realm must hold more secrets, but for now, his cultivation was the most important thing.

...

Two hundred years passed.

In the white jade square of the xianfu secret realm, a black-clad girl sat cross-legged beside a sundial, her eyes fixed on the distant, high-altitude crack in the clouds.

On her shoulder, a small, silver figure sat with its legs crossed, its body surrounded by silver flames, and seven colorful flames rising from its head.

The girl was Ti Huan, and the small figure was the refined, human-shaped Jing Yan Huo Niao.

After Ti Huan had fully refined the seven-colored fire dan sand, the Jing Yan Huo Niao had grown significantly, and its head was now adorned with seven colorful flames.

Unlike Ti Huan, who was facing the distant crack, the silver figure was facing the golden hall behind her, its legs dangling lazily, and its expression seemed somewhat listless. "Little Jing, you're also waiting for Master to hurry up and exit seclusion, aren't you?" Qiuhun asked with a smile, noticing Jingyan Huo Niao's emotions.

Jingyan Huo Niao nodded heavily, and the seven-colored flames on its head jumped up and down in response.

Qiuhun knew that Jingyan Huo Niao was eager to show Han Li the power it had gained after absorbing the seven-colored fire sand, and Qiuhun couldn't help but shake its head.

When Qiuhun had first exited seclusion, its body was surrounded by a vortex of silver flames and seven-colored fire, which had almost gotten out of control and burned down the entire secret realm.

Luckily, Qiuhun had intervened in time to control the flames, preventing them from spreading to the buildings. However, the forest in front of them had already been burned to ashes, and even the white jade square had turned a dark, charred color.

Just then, the entire square shook violently, and the entire secret realm began to tremble.

Qiuhun's eyes narrowed, and it suddenly leaped into the air, flying high above the ground.

Jingyan Huo Niao, perched on Qiuhun's shoulder, seemed to have been startled as well, stumbling and almost falling off.

After Qiuhun flew into the air, it looked down and saw that the gray mist surrounding the secret realm was churning violently, as if it was retreating.

As the gray mist retreated, the area of the secret realm began to expand.

"This is the third time since the beginning of the month..." Qiuhun muttered to itself.

Qiuhun had seen this scene before, but each time the mist churned with increasing intensity, and the area of the secret realm that was revealed grew larger.

After about ten breaths, the ground stopped shaking, and the gray mist ceased its churning.

Qiuhun looked at the golden great hall where Han Li was in seclusion, a hint of concern in its eyes.

Eighty years ago, Han Li had already broken through to the late stage of the Taiyi Realm, causing a stir in the secret realm. However, he had not chosen to exit seclusion at that time, instead continuing to cultivate until now.

...

That night.

Inside the golden great hall, a half-transparent golden flower bud stood upright, with Han Li sitting cross-legged inside.

Han Li's skin was translucent like beautiful jade, and his internal organs and meridians could be seen through his skin. On his body, 359 acupoints shone with golden light.

Han Li's cultivation had reached the peak of the Taiyi Realm!

Underneath him, the ring-shaped patterns on the three white jade cushions had dimmed, and the golden light had stopped rippling. It was clear that the time law contained within had been almost depleted.

Just then, Han Li's tightly closed eyes suddenly trembled, and he slowly opened them. A golden light seemed to emanate from his eyes, shining three inches long.

"Ah..."

He opened his mouth, and a wisp of white mist escaped.

After a moment, Han Li's expression calmed, and he slowly blinked his eyes. The strange phenomena surrounding him began to dissipate like mist, and even the golden light in his eyes disappeared.

At this moment, Han Li's body was full of vital energy, and his internal energy was perfectly balanced, without any sharp edges or rough spots.

At first glance, one might not notice anything unusual about him, but if one looked closely, they would sense a faint, intangible aura surrounding him, which was a sign of the Taiyi Jade Immortal body reaching complete transparency.

"It seems that's all for now. Breaking through to the Daluo Realm in one go is impossible..." Han Li said to himself.

He chuckled, feeling a bit greedy.

In just over two hundred years, he had gone from the mid-stage of the Taiyi Realm to the peak, and was now just one step away from achieving the Daluo Realm.

Although he had the support of the strange environment, the seven time law pills, and the 900+ acupoints he had opened, his breakthrough speed was still astonishing.

If he were to reveal this to others, most cultivators would probably not believe him.

Han Li couldn't help but feel a sense of pride and accomplishment.

After sitting for a while, he slowly stood up, stretched his body, and a series of "cracking" sounds echoed from his joints.

Just as he was about to leave the great hall, a faint "click" sound echoed in his ears.

Han Li looked in the direction of the sound, his brow furrowed.

He saw that the white jade cushion he had been sitting on had suddenly developed a crack, and then shattered with a loud "crack" sound.

However, what was strange was that the cushion did not break into pieces, but instead turned into a layer of white powder that scattered in all directions.

At the same time, the entire golden hall began to shake violently, and a strange vibration spread out from it.

Han Li felt a slight anomaly in his heart, and then thought of something and quickly retreated, flying out to the white stone square.

As a result, when he got outside, he found that the shaking outside was even more intense than inside.

"Master, what's happening..." Ti Hu cried out, flying over with the Jing Yan Firebird.

"I don't know, it seems I triggered some kind of mechanism in this immortal's secret realm, and this realm is about to undergo a change." Han Li said thoughtfully.

"Then we should leave quickly." Ti Hu said hastily.

"What a pity..." Han Li sighed.

There were obviously many secrets hidden in this immortal's secret realm, but they had no time to explore them now.

As they turned to leave, they suddenly stopped in their tracks.

The void crack that connected the inside and outside of the secret realm had disappeared!

"How is this possible? The crack was just there a moment ago, don't you believe me, ask Xiao Jing?" Ti Hu exclaimed.

The Silver Flame Child, who was still sitting on her shoulder, nodded vigorously, and the seven-colored flames on his head shook violently.

"I believe it, this secret realm's space must have undergone some kind of change." Han Li said.

He had noticed the changes in the Jing Yan Firebird's body earlier, but had no time to ask about it now.

"By the way, during Master's closed-door cultivation, this secret realm has experienced over ten shocks, the most intense one being when you broke through to the late stage of the Nascent Soul. And this month, including this time, there have been four shocks. Each time the shock occurs, the mist around the secret realm will retreat a bit, and some new regions will be revealed." Ti Hu said.

"Have you gone to investigate those places, and found anything unusual?" Han Li asked, his brow furrowed.

"I only went close to one of them, and didn't find anything unusual. But since the shocks have become more frequent, I didn't dare to leave, and have been waiting here." Ti Hu shook her head.

Han Li listened, his brow furrowed, and was thinking about what was going on when the great hall in front of him suddenly shook violently, and a hundred-zhang-thick golden light burst out from the hall, shooting straight into the nine heavens.

After that, the shaking of the great hall suddenly subsided.

Han Li saw this, and his heart was filled with doubt, and he flew forward to take a closer look, but was blocked by an invisible force, and couldn't get close to the hall door.

"Master, do you feel like the earth is slowly rising?" Ti Hu asked suddenly.

Han Li had been paying attention to the golden light earlier, and only now reacted to her words.

He flew up to take a look around, and saw that the gray mist at the edge of the secret realm was surging violently, and a new piece of land was slowly emerging from the mist.

...

Outside the immortal's secret realm, in the middle of the Jin Yuan Mountain Range, Qing Si Valley.

The ground was shaking violently, making a huge noise, like an earthquake.

"This is the earth dragon turning over!" The villagers of Yu Liang Village exclaimed, running out of their homes to the open area.

At this moment, a loud thunderous sound came from underground, and a huge golden light pillar suddenly shot up from the ground, piercing the sky, and entering the clouds.

The light pillar was enormous, and the nearby mountains seemed tiny in comparison.

With the golden light pillar as the center, the surrounding heaven and earth energy was violently fluctuating, and the golden clouds in the sky were rolling and tumbling, making a loud rumbling sound like a thousand horses galloping.

The villagers of Yu Liang Village stared at the scene in shock.

"This is a divine sign, a divine manifestation!" Someone shouted, and the villagers of Yu Liang Village knelt down to worship the golden light pillar.

Not to mention the ignorant villagers of Yu Liang Village, seven or eight streaks of light flew in from the east-southeast direction, and in an instant, they arrived at the nearby area, stopping in mid-air about ten li away from the mountain valley.

The light dissipated, revealing a group of cultivators.

The leader was an old woman with gray hair, who was at the Golden Immortal level, holding a yellow snake staff, and the others were young men and women who were only at the True Immortal level.

All of them wore the same earth-yellow feathered robes, and seemed to be from the same sect. As they gazed at the extraordinary phenomenon before them, the young men and women all revealed excited expressions.

"Uncle Lin, this phenomenon seems to be a sign of a treasure emerging, a secret realm appearing in the mortal world! Let's hurry down and take a look, if we wait any longer, it will be troublesome," a young male disciple with a pale complexion exclaimed to the gray-haired old woman.

The others also nodded in agreement, eager to take action.

"Don't be rash, this phenomenon is indeed a sign of a treasure emerging, but it has not fully appeared yet. Going down now would be pointless. Moreover, this phenomenon is not trivial, it's not something we can control. Quickly send a message back to the sect and inform the Sect Master of the situation," the gray-haired old woman said, her expression also somewhat excited, but still calm.

The young men and women behind her immediately took action, taking out their transmission arrays to contact the sect.

At this moment, two more streaks of light flew in from the distance, arriving near the mountain valley, revealing two black-robed cultivators with sinister faces, both of whom were Golden Immortal cultivators.

"They're from the Black Fiend Sect," a young man behind the old woman whispered.

"Don't mind them, come over here," the gray-haired old woman glanced at the two black-robed cultivators and led the group to the top of a nearby mountain peak.

The two black-robed cultivators looked at the group, then turned away, flying to a nearby mountain peak and taking out their transmission devices to contact others.

In the central part of the Golden Source Mountain Range, the extraordinary phenomenon of a massive pillar of light shooting into the sky spread rapidly, and soon, the various factions within the Golden Source Mountain Range were aware of the situation. More and more people arrived at the scene.

In the blink of an eye, half a month passed, and the golden pillar of light not only didn't weaken, but instead showed a trend of growing stronger.

Inside the secret realm, Han Li stood within, his eyes shining brightly.

As the secret realm shook, the gray mist at the edge rapidly dissipated.

At this moment, the space within the secret realm had expanded several times, gradually revealing its true appearance.

On either side of the dense forest, two massive golden mountain peaks emerged, stretching into the sky, resembling two heavenly walls that sandwiched the forest, forming a massive canyon.

The golden mountain peaks on either side were shrouded in thick gray clouds from the middle up, making it impossible to see the true appearance of the mountains.

The most peculiar thing was that thick gray chains, each as thick as a water jug, hung down from the gray mist, all the way to the foot of the mountain, resembling a waterfall.

The chains flashed with gray lightning, crackling with energy, and looked quite intimidating.

Han Li flew down to the foot of a mountain peak, looking at the gray chains, hesitating for a moment before reaching out to touch one.

A gray lightning bolt shot out from the chain, striking him.

Han Li grunted, his body retreating a step, the area struck by the lightning bolt turning dark.

He circulated his spiritual energy, and his body quickly recovered, a hint of surprise flashing in his eyes. The gray lightning bolt's power was enormous, and even with his robust physical body, he couldn't withstand it.

And this was just one lightning bolt; if more lightning bolts were to strike, he wouldn't be able to guarantee his safety.

Han Li withdrew his gaze from the mountain peak, the entrance to the space behind him a stable void. He looked towards the depths of the canyon formed by the two mountain peaks, where the gray mist was rapidly dissipating, revealing a path leading deeper into the secret realm.

He moved, flying towards the path.

...

Meanwhile, the area around the Qing Silk Valley was filled with cultivators, with tens of thousands of people gathering within a radius of a thousand miles.

The various factions began to divide the area into their own territories, with some solitary cultivators finding a place to stand. However, the larger factions needed more space. The area closest to the pillar of light was occupied by seven or eight factions.

The gray-haired old woman's group had been forced to retreat, and they were now accompanied by three more people: a middle-aged man with a yellow complexion, a seductive young woman, and a white-haired old man.

The three newcomers were all Golden Immortal cultivators, with the yellow-faced man having reached the late Golden Immortal stage. He stood at the front of the group, looking like the leader.

"The Ling Xiao Sect, the Wang You Pavilion, the Lie Guang City, the Mo Xiang Lou, the Qing Su Valley, the Ling Yue Guan, and the Bai Yun Mountain Villa! The top factions in the Golden Source Mountain Range have all arrived, and they've taken our territory!" the gray-haired old woman exclaimed, her eyes fixed on the Ling Yue Guan faction.

The territory they had previously occupied had been taken by the Ling Yue Guan faction.

"There's nothing we can do, we're not as powerful as they are. Those factions all have Taiyi Realm cultivators, our small Huang Feng Sect can't compete with them," the yellow-faced man sighed.

"According to our investigations, this phenomenon should be a secret realm or a heavenly palace emerging. When it comes to treasure hunting, it's not just about who has the strongest power, luck is also important," the middle-aged woman said with a snort.

The others nodded in agreement, although they knew that her words were mostly self-consoling.

"It's strange, the Tong Tian Sword Sect and the Tian Shui Sect aren't in the Golden Source Mountain Range, and they're too far away, so it's not surprising they haven't arrived yet. But why haven't we seen anyone from the Xian Gong?" the white-haired old man asked, frowning.

“Stone Brother, you just came out of seclusion, you don't know that the Golden Source Immortal Palace has encountered a great calamity. It's said that over a hundred years ago, someone single-handedly killed their way into the Golden Source Immortal Palace, slaughtering the palace master, Dongfang Bai, and his five Tian Yin disciples, as well as other powerful experts. The current Golden Source Immortal Palace's power has greatly decreased, and the Heavenly Court doesn't know why, but they still haven't sent anyone to take charge of the situation. So, they probably won't come this time.” The grey-haired old woman looked at the white-haired old man and slowly said.

“Such a thing has happened! Dongfang Bai was a peak existence in the Tai Yi realm, his true strength was almost equal to the Da Luo realm. Who could have done such a thing? Could it be the Wheel of Reincarnation Temple?" The white-haired old man's body shook, and his eyes revealed an expression of disbelief.

“According to rumors, it was done by someone named Han Li on the Extermination List. I don't know if this person is a member of the Wheel of Reincarnation Temple, but the Heavenly Court has never encountered such a... absurd thing. Now, the Heavenly Court has issued a pursuit order, offering a heavy reward for capturing this person, but there's been no news of him. I don't know if he's already left the Golden Source Immortal Domain.” The grey-haired old woman chuckled and said.

The white-haired old man nodded thoughtfully, his expression returning to calmness, but his eyes still flickered with a hint of excitement.

At this moment, near the group of people from the Huang Feng Gate, two figures stood nearby.

The two figures were both wearing black robes, the woman was a young girl with a beautiful face, and the man was slender with a slightly pale complexion.

After hearing the conversation between the Huang Feng Gate group, the two figures looked over, their expressions somewhat unusual.

“So many years have passed, and Han Li, you've given me more and more surprises.” The young girl's mouth curved upwards, and she whispered to herself in a barely audible voice.

“What's wrong, do you want to go find that person? Don't forget our mission.” The black-robed young man looked at the young girl, his brow furrowed as he transmitted his voice.

“You can rest assured, I know what's important.” The young girl waved her hand and said lightly.

At this moment, several majestic blue lights flew over from the distance, carrying an extremely dense water aura, and quickly arrived nearby.

As the lights flashed, four blue-robed cultivators appeared, directly descending towards the ground.

The four cultivators emitted extremely powerful auras, all of them being Tai Yi realm existences. The people in front hastily made way.

“They're from the Tian Shui Sect! I didn't expect them to come too.” The Huang Feng Gate's yellow-faced man's expression changed, and he whispered.

The Huang Feng Gate's other members also changed expressions, and the people nearby all did the same.

The Tian Shui Sect's four cultivators ignored the surrounding people, quickly arriving near the golden light pillar.

Two of the four cultivators walked in front, one was a twenty-one or twenty-two-year-old woman with beautiful features, her face cold and detached, as if she was a goddess from the moon palace, always emitting a feeling of rejection.

The other person was a middle-aged man with long, narrow eyes and a hooked nose, his entire body radiating a fierce aura, making people shiver.

The two cultivators behind were a sturdy, tall man with a dense brow, and a refined, elegant young man holding a folding fan, resembling a worldly, elegant gentleman.

The Ling Xiao Gate and other sects stood up, hastily making way to the side, clearing a space.

“Su Xianzi, Jing Liu Daoist, it's been many years since we parted ways at the Lake of Suspension. I didn't expect you two to come here too.” A broad-faced, large man from the Ling Xiao Gate walked out, smiling as he spoke to the cold-faced woman and the middle-aged man, but with a hint of probing.

“Are you saying this place is your Ling Xiao Gate's territory, and we can't come here?" Jing Liu glanced at the broad-faced man, his expression cold.

“I wouldn't dare, but the Tian Shui Sect is quite far from here, and you two are important figures within the Tian Shui Sect. Now, you've come here together, and we're all curious – do you know something about this anomaly?" The broad-faced man shook his head, his eyes flashing with a hint of inquiry.

The people from the Wang You Pavilion, Lie Guang City, and other forces also looked over.

Being stared at by so many people, Jing Liu's eyebrows furrowed.

“We were handling some matters near the Golden Source Mountain Range, and we heard about this anomaly, so we came to investigate. As for the situation here, we know nothing. But the Qing Su Valley is closest to this place, they should have some information.” Su Xianzi interrupted, her voice clear and cold, yet lively, and then looked at the group of blue-robed cultivators nearby.

“I, Qing Su Valley, although we're closest to this place, it's quite desolate, and people rarely come here. But I've already sent people to investigate, and this mountain valley is called Qing Si Gou. It's indeed strange, and within Qing Si Gou, there's a place called White Hair Valley. According to the nearby mortals, there's a clear spring in the valley, which can make old and dying people regain their youth. However, that clear spring is currently enveloped by the light pillar, and we can't investigate.” A blue-robed cultivator from the Qing Su Valley walked out, hastily explaining, as if afraid of being targeted.

“Making people regain their youth... that's quite unusual. Could it be related to the time laws? Is that clear spring the legendary Guang Yin water?" Su Xianzi's face showed a hint of surprise, and she guessed.

“Guang Yin water is extremely precious, how could it appear in such a remote place? Mortals are foolish, maybe that clear spring has nothing to do with this light pillar anomaly.” Jing Liu shook his head.

Su Xianzi glanced at Jing Liu, but didn't speak.

“Haha! Fellow cultivators, you've arrived quickly, but I, Lei, have come too late.” A loud voice suddenly echoed through the mountain valley, reverberating through the air. Everyone heard the sound, and their expressions changed as they looked up.

Jin Liu's eyebrows furrowed as he gazed into the distance.

Su Zhang's face turned cold, and her entire body suddenly radiated a chill, icy aura.

A golden light appeared on the horizon, and in the next moment, it rapidly expanded and brightened, transforming into a golden sun-like light that illuminated the valley, making it impossible for anyone to open their eyes.

"Lei Yu Ce, you're quite bold," Jin Liu sneered, waving his sleeve.

A layer of blue light, like a wave, shot out from his hand and rapidly spread out.

Wherever it passed, the dazzling blue light seemed to be absorbed, disappearing from sight.

"Ah, Fellow Daoist Jin's 'Cang Hai Shen Jue' is even more exquisite, I must admit," a voice said as the golden light flashed and disappeared, revealing two figures descending from the sky.

The first person was a sturdy man in his thirties, wearing a golden robe, with a robust physique and visible muscle lines, like a majestic lion.

The other person was a handsome young man with a gentle, ethereal aura, and a calm demeanor.

"Originally, it was Fellow Daoist Lei and Fellow Daoist Wen from the Tong Tian Sword Sect, I didn't expect you two to be here as well, what a fortunate encounter," the burly man from the Ling Xiao Sect and the green-robed man from the Qing Su Valley said, greeting them with even more respect than they had shown the Tian Shui Sect's four cultivators.

"We two were also handling matters in the Jin Yuan Mountain Range, and we happened to hear about the events here, so we came to take a look. The treasure within the secret realm is naturally meant for those with the right fate, our Tong Tian Sword Sect doesn't intend to monopolize it, so please don't worry," the handsome young man said with a smile.

"We're willing to follow Fellow Daoist Lei and Fellow Daoist Wen," the burly man and the others said, relieved.

The four Tian Shui Sect cultivators looked on, their expressions not very pleasant, but they didn't say much.

"Su Xianzi, it's been many years since we last met, you've been closed off, cultivating the 'Tai Yin Bing Po Dao', I've visited you many times, but never managed to see you, I didn't expect to run into you here today. It seems you've broken through the bottleneck of the Tai Yi Later Period, I'm truly happy for you," Lei Yu Ce said, ignoring the others and gazing at Su Zhang with a deep, affectionate look in his eyes.

Su Zhang snorted, turning her head away, her expression annoyed.

Lei Yu Ce didn't seem to mind, continuing to gaze at Su Zhang with a lovesick expression.

The surrounding crowd didn't react with surprise, as if they were accustomed to this scene.

The Tong Tian Sword Sect's Lei Yu Ce had been pursuing the Tian Shui Sect's Su Zhang for tens of thousands of years, and this was a well-known fact throughout the Jin Yuan Continent.

"These two are quite strong, what is the Tong Tian Sword Sect?" a young girl from the Huang Feng Sect asked, her brow furrowed, in a whispered transmission.

"The Tong Tian Sword Sect is considered the number one sect in the Jin Yuan Xian Domain, its strength is comparable to the Jin Yuan Xian Palace, and this Lei Yu Ce is the Tong Tian Sword Sect's Vice-Sect Leader, his strength has reached the Tai Yi Later Period, making him one of the top experts in the Jin Yuan Xian Domain. As for the handsome young man, his surname is Wen, and he's probably the Tong Tian Sword Sect's Sword-Bearing Elder, Wen Zhong, his strength is also not to be underestimated. These two, along with the Tian Shui Sect's Su Zhang and Jin Liu, are the main enemies we'll be facing on this journey. Didn't you read the documents before we set out? I'm starting to doubt whether it's suitable for you to be in charge of this matter," a black-robed youth said, his brow furrowed, in a whispered transmission.

"You're getting things backwards, they're just a few local tyrants in the Jin Yuan Xian Domain, they're not that powerful, our true enemies are them," the young girl said, her eyes glinting, as she nodded towards the distance.

The black-robed youth looked over, and saw two blue-green lights flying towards the valley.

These two lights weren't very bright, and the valley was filled with lights, so they didn't stand out.

The blue-green lights quickly arrived, and transformed into a male and female cultivator, the man with a thick beard, and the woman with a round face and a cherry blossom mouth, both of them looked ordinary, the kind of people who would blend into the crowd.

"Who are they?" the black-robed youth asked, his expression puzzled.

The young girl flipped her hand, and a white pearl the size of a chicken egg appeared in her palm, with a ring of white light flashing within.

The light flashed, and the images of the two cultivators appeared, but their faces had changed to new ones.

The man was in his thirties, with a white face and a short beard, giving off a scholarly aura, while the woman was only seventeen or eighteen, with a pale, oval face, and a lively, mischievous expression, with big, round eyes that seemed to be constantly moving.

"Are they the Blue siblings from the Jin Han Xian Palace, Blue Yuan and Blue Yan? How did they end up here? Has our presence been discovered?" the black-robed youth's eyes widened in surprise.

I don't see any text to translate. Please provide the text you'd like me to translate, and I'll be happy to assist you. The stone gate was adorned with ancient, simple patterns, exuding a sense of age and antiquity, making it clear that it was something from tens of thousands of years ago.

On the top of the stone gate, the words "Taisheng Xianfu" were written in ancient script, possibly because of the passage of time, the characters were no longer clear, but could still be made out.

...

Inside the secret realm, within the canyon.

The gray mist in front of him churned and rolled, rapidly retreating backwards.

Han Li's face lit up with joy, and he swiftly flew towards the front, closely pursuing the gray mist.

A few days ago, the gray mist had been slowly dissipating, revealing new areas of the secret realm, but the speed of its dissipation was not fast, and he could only follow slowly behind. Now, he felt a sense of exhilaration.

After flying for a moment, the scenery in front of him suddenly opened up, and he finally reached the end of the canyon.

Han Li's figure flashed, and he stopped in mid-air.

The gray mist quickly dispersed, revealing a vast area.

The sky was a brilliant blue, with white clouds floating lazily, and the ground below was a boundless plain, covered in green grass. A gentle breeze blew from afar, carrying a refreshing and clean air that made one's heart feel at ease.

In the distance, he could see some mountain peaks and rugged ridges, dotting the landscape.

The scenery before him was like a beautiful painting, unfolding before his eyes.

He took a deep breath, and his tense heart relaxed slightly.

However, Han Li soon regained his composure.

This was not the time to appreciate the scenery, as he could feel the entrance to the secret realm's space at the bottom of the canyon fluctuating wildly, and the fluctuations were growing stronger, as if it was about to open again.

Han Li didn't know that outside, a large crowd had already gathered, but he could guess that if the entrance opened again, it would attract people.

He lightly exhaled, and then fully opened his divine sense, spreading it outwards.

The next moment, his eyes lit up, and a golden light appeared on his body.

A loud clap of thunder boomed, and his figure disappeared, reappearing on a mountain peak.

On the mountain peak stood a white, jade-like building, emitting a gentle, white glow.

However, the building was surrounded by a white, shimmering light screen, which seemed extraordinary.

Han Li raised his arm, and a finger drew a line in the air.

With a "whooshing" sound, a hundred-meter-long golden sword light shot out from his sleeve, slashing towards the white light screen surrounding the building. The sword light cut through the air, causing the surrounding space to vibrate and emit a sharp, piercing sound, as if it was about to be split open.

Han Li's cultivation had broken through to the peak of the Taiyi Realm, and the power of the Qingtian Cloud Sword had increased again.

However, the golden sword light slashed against the white light screen, which vibrated and resisted, but ultimately held firm.

"What a sturdy restriction..." Han Li's eyebrows rose, and he appeared in front of the building, punching the white light screen.

With a "popping" sound, the white light screen shattered, and Han Li's figure fell into the building. A moment later, he flew out, his face filled with excitement.

Han Li didn't linger, and his body's golden light flashed, disappearing once again.

...

At this moment, outside the secret realm.

"Taisheng Fu!" The crowd saw the stone gate rising from the ground, and most people looked puzzled, clearly having never heard of this name.

However, Su Zhi, Jing Liu, and Lei Yuze's faces lit up with excitement.

In the corner of the crowd, Qimozi's body shook, and his face revealed a look of shock.

Xiong Shan saw Qimozi's expression and wanted to ask, but didn't.

"Taisheng, your cave is here! Good, good, coming to the Jinyuan Xian Domain this time was indeed the right decision!" Qimozi's eyes flashed with excitement.

Not long after, the golden light column that shot up into the sky suddenly began to flash violently, and the ancient stone gate appeared somewhat blurry under the flickering light.

Upon seeing this, the scene immediately fell silent, with everyone's eyes fixed on the golden light column.

Everyone held their breath, seemingly waiting for something.

The light column's flashing continued for only a short while, and then it suddenly brightened, becoming dazzlingly bright, but the next moment it quickly shrunk, disappearing in an instant, leaving the stone gate exposed in the air.

Almost at the same time the light column disappeared, Su Cai, Lei Yu Ce, and others immediately shot out, rushing towards the golden stone gate.

A loud, muffled sound echoed, and transparent ripples appeared on the stone gate, causing several people to be bounced back.

Jin Liu, who was the most impatient, even broke through the air, his forehead cracking open, and he couldn't help but curse loudly.

Others who were about to rush forward stopped in their tracks, seeing this scene.

It was only then that they noticed that the stone gate still had a transparent light screen, which was difficult to see if one didn't look carefully.

"It's a seal!" Su Cai and others, although not injured, frowned.

Lei Yu Ce's pupils constricted, and his left hand lifted, his five fingers swiping at the stone gate's empty space.

Five golden sword lights, each ten meters long, suddenly appeared in front of the stone gate, shining brightly like the sun, and striking the stone gate with lightning speed.

The five sword lights shattered, but the transparent light screen on the stone gate also slightly rippled, before returning to normal.

"This light screen is sturdy, but it's not unbreakable. With so many people here, as long as we work together, I believe we can break it with some effort." Lei Yu Ce withdrew his hand, saying loudly.

"What are you waiting for? Quickly break through this last seal. Qing Suo Valley, you have a Qing Suo Great Array, its power is decent, quickly deploy it. Ling Xiao Men, your Ling Xiao Lying Yang technique is also passable, quickly use it, and also Ling Yue Guan..." Jin Liu heard this, and roared at the eight sects, his tone harsh, as if he was scolding his own grandson.

The people of Qing Suo Valley and the other sects were secretly angry, but didn't say anything, as they were currently in front of the secret realm, so they each deployed their techniques, attacking the stone gate's seal.

Su Cai, Lei Yu Ce, and others also didn't idle, and they all took action.

In an instant, a multitude of divine artifacts and secret techniques' light struck the stone gate's seal, producing a dense, thunderous sound.

The stone gate's light screen flickered, appearing thin, but was actually extremely sturdy, firmly resisting the crowd's frenzied attack, without weakening in the slightest.

Everyone saw this, and their hearts were shocked.

"Don't stop, continue to attack with all your might!" Lei Yu Ce stared at the light screen, his eyes flashing, and he shouted.

Qi Mo Zi stood at the back of the crowd, not taking action, silently watching the scene before him.

He currently displayed a Golden Immortal-level aura, standing among the crowd, not drawing attention to himself, and the ones taking action were only the Tian Tian Sword Sect, Tian Shui Sect, the seven great sects, and a few other forces.

After all, the stone gate was only a small area, and with too many people, it was actually counterproductive.

"Sir, do you think they can break through the seal like this? Shouldn't you lend a hand?" Xiong Shan asked quietly.

"The method is a bit dull, but it should be fine, it's just a matter of time. Now is not the time to reveal our identity." Qi Mo Zi shook his head.

Xiong Shan nodded upon hearing this.

Time passed, and in the blink of an eye, a day and night went by.

The Tian Tian Sword Sect, Tian Shui Sect, and others took turns attacking, and the stone gate's seal withstood a day and night's attack, finally starting to weaken.

"The seal is starting to loosen, add a bit more force!" Lei Yu Ce's eyes lit up, and he shouted.

The crowd's spirits were shaken, and they once again increased their attack.

In the blink of an eye, half a day passed, and the stone gate's seal was finally broken, shattering with a loud "bang".

A large amount of golden light surged out from the stone gate, forming a golden whirlpool, with countless golden light points jumping about, resembling the starry sky's whirlpool, mysterious and unfathomable.

...

Deep within the secret realm, Han Li was breaking through a palace's seal, his face suddenly changing, and he looked towards the secret realm's entrance.

He could sense a powerful spatial fluctuation, coming from there.

"The secret realm's entrance will eventually be discovered...I wonder how many people will rush in?" He furrowed his brows, and muttered to himself, before his eyes flashed with a fierce light, and he shouted.

Han Li's body was enveloped in a golden light, and he transformed into a mountainous giant ape, punching the palace's seal.

The air directly collapsed where his fist struck, and the palace's seal violently fluctuated, before being torn apart. Not only that, but Han Li's fist's residual energy also caused some damage to the palace within the seal. Han Li couldn't be bothered with these things, and immediately flew into the palace.

Since he knew that an outsider had entered, his time was limited.

……

In the valley of the blue silk.

"Go!"

Lei Yu Ce's face lit up with joy, and he flew into the golden whirlpool first, disappearing without a trace.

Although there were many Taiyi realm cultivators present, with over a dozen, Lei Yu Ce was undoubtedly the strongest, so no one had any objections, and they all followed him into the whirlpool.

After the people from the major sects entered, the others also entered the whirlpool one after another.

Lan Shi siblings, Qi Mozi, and others all hid among the crowd, entering the golden whirlpool and arriving at the secret realm.

Everyone appeared in the same place, which was the same valley where Han Li had entered the secret realm earlier.

Behind them, a golden whirlpool slowly rotated in mid-air, and the outside situation could be vaguely seen.

Qi Mozi's gaze swept around, and a flash of light appeared in his eyes.

"Xiong Shan, you follow these people and take advantage of the opportunities here. I'll go ahead." Qi Mozi said to Xiong Shan, and before he could respond, he disappeared without a sound.

Xiong Shan saw Qi Mozi disappear, and his face didn't show any emotion, but he was secretly happy.

After all, he could finally make his own decisions without having to ask Qi Mozi for permission. However, without Qi Mozi by his side, he was just a small Jin Xian, and he felt a bit lonely and worried.

She Qian, Lan Shi siblings, and others didn't stay long, and they quietly used their techniques to hide their bodies and head towards the depths of the valley.

In another corner of the crowd, two black-robed men and women stood.

"Lan Yuanzi and the others have gone towards the depths of the secret realm. Let's go, or we'll be left behind." The black-robed girl transmitted a message, and the black-robed youth nodded.

Then, the two of them disappeared without a trace.

Everyone's techniques were more and more ingenious, and even Lei Yu Ce didn't notice anything.

They were all marveling at the environment of the secret realm, and after a while, they finally calmed down and were about to explore the depths of the valley.

Just then, the sky of the secret realm suddenly shook violently, and the air was filled with the sound of thunder. The sky was covered with white lightning-like light, and the sound was deafening.

Everyone's faces changed, and they looked up at the sky. Lei Yu Ce and the others were no exception.

Rumble!

The entire secret realm shook like an earthquake, and then the sound of thunder echoed through the sky. The sky was filled with black cracks, and it was a shocking sight.

Next, a scene that shocked everyone appeared!

The golden whirlpool in mid-air suddenly expanded and contracted several times, and then exploded with a loud bang, disappearing without a trace.

The shaking of the ground and the trembling of the sky finally subsided.

"What's going on?" Han Li flew out of the palace, saw the strange phenomenon in the sky, and his face changed.

Behind him, the palace was in shambles, and the roof was torn off. The inside was a mess.

Han Li's eyebrows furrowed, and he quickly looked away, continuing to fly towards the depths of the secret realm.

At the same time, Lei Yu Ce and the others were also shocked, especially since the entrance to the outside world had been closed, making many people uneasy.

"Lei Dao friend, Su Dao friend, I think you two seem to know something about this cave. Do you know what's going on?" A burly man from the Ling Xiao Sect looked at Lei Yu Ce and Su Qian, and asked.

Everyone else looked over, waiting for their response.

"Regarding this cave, I know something. A thousand years ago, there was a great expert named Tai Sui Xian Zun, who cultivated the Time Law, one of the three great supreme laws. His power was naturally not to be underestimated. However, he disappeared without a trace, and no one knows what happened to him. I only know this because I read it in our sect's ancient texts. I think this cave is probably the one he left behind." Lei Yu Ce and Su Qian exchanged a glance, and then Lei Yu Ce spoke up.

Everyone's faces lit up with joy, and their earlier unease due to the entrance disappearing was alleviated.

A great expert, a Tai Sui Xian Zun, had left behind a cave, and it was likely to contain many treasures. Moreover, if what Lei Yu Ce said was true, the cave had been hidden for a thousand years, and the age of the treasures inside was unimaginable.

Lei Yu Ce's eyes moved, and he looked at Su Qian again. He sent a message to her, and she responded with a slight nod.

"That's the situation. Do you two have any idea what's going on?" The burly man asked again.

"I only know this much, but I think the secret realm's space is collapsing. We forced our way into the entrance, and the space is starting to break down. It won't last much longer." Lei Yu Ce thought for a moment before speaking, and his words made everyone's hearts tighten.

Among the crowd, there were many who were experienced and knowledgeable, and they all had similar guesses about the current situation. However, they had not dared to confirm it before, and now that they had heard Lei Yu Ce's words, they naturally believed it to be true, and their faces turned somewhat ugly.

Now that the entrance was gone, the entire secret realm space was on the verge of collapse. Were so many people going to be trapped here for no reason?

"Gentlemen, there's no need to worry. Since this is the Da Luo Cave, there must be a way out. Although the secret realm space is weak, I think it will last for at least a month, which is enough time for us to find a way out." Lei Yu Ce said, seeing the situation.

The cultivators heard his words and, after a moment of commotion, their emotions calmed down slightly. However, many people still looked terrified.

"Gentlemen, please listen to me for a moment." Wen Zhong, who was standing beside Lei Yu Ce, stepped forward and said in a loud voice.

His voice was not loud, but it was clear to everyone's ears, as if he was speaking directly to them.

The crowd was currently in a state of confusion, and when they heard his words, they all looked over.

"This cave's secret realm is indeed strange, not only is time pressing, but the front is also full of unknown dangers. If we all act separately, I'm afraid we'll not only fail to obtain the treasures, but also increase the risk of injury and death. In my opinion, we might as well work together and form an alliance. Although the front is full of dangers, if we combine our strength, we can surely overcome them. What do you think, gentlemen?" Wen Zhong said with a smile.

"Not bad, it's better to work together. We're all influential figures, and it's not easy to have reached our current level. There's no need to risk our lives for some unheard-of legends." Tian Shui Zong's Jin Liu also spoke up.

The others heard their words and looked at each other, but no one spoke up for a moment.

As for Wen Zhong's suggestion, most people's initial reaction was to refuse. Working together would require following orders, and they were all powerful figures from different factions, each seeking to gain an advantage.

However, the current situation was indeed strange, and who knew what dangers lay ahead? Working together also had its benefits.

Moreover, the proposal was made by the Tong Tian Sword Sect, and Tian Shui Zong had also agreed to it.

Furthermore, the Tong Tian Sword Sect, Tian Shui Zong, and Jin Yuan Xian Palace were the three major powers in the Jin Yuan Xian Domain. Now that Jin Yuan Xian Palace was weak, the Tong Tian Sword Sect and Tian Shui Zong had become even more powerful, and their influence was greater than before. The others present were all from smaller factions, and they dared not openly refuse.

"Gentlemen, there's no need to worry too much. Our alliance is only temporary, and there won't be many rules. Whatever treasures we find in the secret realm will belong to each of us. We just need to follow the alliance's arrangements when it comes to how to proceed in the secret realm, and we must not act on our own." Wen Zhong said again.

The cultivators heard his words and most of them let out a sigh of relief.

The alliance's rules were not many, and the treasures they found would belong to each of them. That was acceptable, and they all nodded in agreement.

"Since everyone has agreed, the alliance is now officially formed." Lei Yu Ce said loudly, scanning the crowd with his eyes.

The crowd was scanned by Lei Yu Ce's gaze, and they all felt a chill run down their spines. They unconsciously looked away, not daring to meet his eyes.

"Now that the alliance is formed, we should also decide on a leader. Lei Yu Ce's strength is unparalleled, and he is the most suitable person to be the leader. Su Xian Zi's strength is second only to Lei Yu Ce, and she can be the deputy leader. What do you think, gentlemen?" Wen Zhong said.

The people from Tian Shui Zong looked at each other, but no one spoke up. They were all tacitly consenting.

This alliance was formed by the Tong Tian Sword Sect's efforts, and Tian Shui Zong had also agreed to it. As for the arrangement, the others had already guessed it and did not object.

"Since everyone has shown their appreciation, I, Lei Yu Ce, will not decline. I will set one rule: no one is allowed to harm their companions. Can you all agree to this?" Lei Yu Ce said in a deep voice.

"We will follow the leader's orders!" The crowd heard that there was only one rule, and no one objected.

"Good, then let's set off and explore this Ta Sui Fu!" Lei Yu Ce waved his hand, leading the way forward.

The others followed closely, and soon they arrived at the palace where Han Li had been meditating.

The golden light pillar that had risen from the palace had already disappeared.

The crowd saw the palace and was overjoyed. Some impatient people were about to fly down and search the palace.

"Don't be reckless, listen to the leader's orders!" Wen Zhong shouted, stopping them.

The others heard his words and remembered that they were now under the alliance's jurisdiction. They reluctantly restrained themselves.

"Wen Zhong, Jin Liu, Qing Suo Valley Master, Mo Xiang Lou Master, take a team of people and go into the palace to take a look." Lei Yu Ce said.

Wen Zhong and the others heard his words and nodded. They quickly led their teams into the palace.

The others were envious, but they could not do anything.

However, in a short while, Wen Zhong and the others returned, their faces looking somewhat ugly.

"Leader, we've found that the things in the palace have all been taken away, and there are signs of a recent battle. It seems that someone has entered the secret realm before us." Wen Zhong said, his face stern. Everyone was shocked upon hearing this, and a commotion broke out.

"Are you certain?" Lei Yu Ce asked, his brow furrowed in concern.

"I'm absolutely sure," Wen Zhong replied confidently.

"Could it be that someone has already been here before us? Whatever the case, let's continue forward for now." Lei Yu Ce's brow was furrowed, and after a moment of contemplation, he gave the order.

The alliance members continued forward, soon exiting the valley and entering a vast, open area. The sudden change in scenery lifted everyone's spirits.

Lei Yu Ce's heart also relaxed slightly, as the vastness of the secret realm made it unlikely that anyone could have searched the entire area thoroughly.

Moreover, it was clear that the other party had not yet left, and if they had made any discoveries, Lei Yu Ce would not hesitate to use force to make them comply.

"Wen Zhong, Jing Liu, divide the people into twenty teams and have them search in different directions. Don't go too far, and return after half a day," Lei Yu Ce instructed.

Wen Zhong and the others quickly divided the teams and assigned them to different areas to search.

During the division of the search areas, the Qing Su Valley and Mo Xiang Lou factions were assigned to remote areas, while the Tong Tian Sword Sect and Tian Shui Sect members were sent to the deeper parts of the secret realm.

The Qing Su Valley and other factions were dissatisfied with the arrangement, but they did not dare to speak out.

Meanwhile, in a different part of the secret realm, a vast, misty hillside area was filled with the faint scent of medicinal herbs.

The hillside was divided into three layers, covering an area of several hundred meters, and was home to a vast array of medicinal herbs, each with an age of at least tens of thousands of years.

At present, over a hundred giant ape puppets were busy digging up various medicinal herbs, working tirelessly to transport them to the outside of the hillside.

Outside the hillside, a massive silver gate stood in the void, leading to another medicinal herb garden.

Han Li stood at the entrance of the silver gate, directing the giant ape puppets to transplant the medicinal herbs into the garden, categorizing them by their properties.

At this moment, Qi Huan emerged from the side of the hillside and reported, "Master, the medicinal herbs with an age of over a million years have already been transplanted. Those that are not suitable for transplantation have been harvested and stored in the pharmacy."

Han Li furrowed his brow, thinking for a moment before asking, "Our medicinal herb garden has limited space, and I'm afraid there's not much room left."

Qi Huan shook her head, "There's no more space left."

Han Li nodded, "The medicinal herbs we transplanted earlier were done so at the minimum interval ratio. If we want to open up new medicinal herb fields, we'll need to transplant them again, or else it will affect the growth of the medicinal herbs."

Han Li paused, looking up at the sky in the distance, and his expression changed slightly.

"What's wrong?" Qi Huan asked, noticing the change.

"The secret realm has been breached, and outsiders have entered... We can't continue like this, it seems we'll have to resort to old tricks again." Han Li said, deep in thought.

"Old tricks? Master, what do you mean?" Qi Huan asked, slightly perplexed.

"These medicinal herbs don't need to be taken care of by the puppets for now. Just have them transplant all the nine-leaf ice grass, Tian Yang Tong Hua, and Zhong Ling Cao into the cave's medicinal herb field. Even if they're not yet ten thousand years old, transplant them all. As for the other medicinal herbs that are not yet mature, don't bother transplanting them."

Qi Huan was puzzled, "Master, nine-leaf ice grass and Tian Yang Tong Hua are both necessary for the preparation of various elixirs. I understand why you want to transplant them, even if they're not yet ten thousand years old. But why do you want to transplant the Zhong Ling Cao as well? It's not a rare herb."

Han Li smiled, "You don't know the secret, do you? The Zhong Ling Cao has auxiliary catalytic properties. If we transplant it together with the nine-leaf ice grass and Tian Yang Tong Hua, and they're mature enough, the nine-leaf ice grass may produce a variant, the nine-leaf ice flame grass, and the Tian Yang Tong Hua may produce a variant, the Tian Yang fire Tong Hua."

Qi Huan's eyes widened in understanding, "I see, I didn't know that."

Han Li continued, "And what about the Jing Yan Huo Niao?"

Qi Huan replied, "It obtained a nine-yang fire gall from the Zhi Yang Lou the other day. After eating it, it seemed to be uncomfortable and has been hiding in the Lian Tang Zhu Lou ever since."

Han Li couldn't help but feel a mixture of emotions. The Jing Yan Huo Niao had only just eaten the seven-colored fire sand, and now it had swallowed the nine-yang fire gall, which was second only to the fire sand in terms of its fire properties. Would it really cause any problems?

But thinking about the Jing Yan Huo Niao's proud expression earlier, Han Li felt a bit more at ease. The Jing Yan Huo Niao was no longer the same as it was before, and if it were to unleash its true flames, Han Li would have a headache dealing with it.

After Ti Hu left, Han Li didn't delay and flew up to the spiritual field.

He stood suspended in mid-air, gazing down at the earth.

Below, he saw that half of the spiritual herbs in the spiritual field had been harvested, and most of the remaining ones were over a hundred thousand years old, but not yet a million years old.

Han Li's eyes swept over the area, and he chose a spot with a dense concentration of spiritual herbs and a rich spiritual energy. He flew down to the edge of the field and walked quickly around it, stomping his foot on the ground as he went. The force of his stomp was not visible, but the ground would sink slightly, revealing a fissure like a knife cut.

After he finished walking around the field, the area of about ten mu was completely sunken, looking like it had been separated from the surrounding land.

Han Li then squatted down, rolled up his sleeves, and inserted his hands into the fissure along the edge of the field. A patch of blue light emerged from his palms, extending underground and enveloping the entire field.

He then let out a low shout: "Rise!"

The field responded to his voice, and he lifted it up with his hands, holding it like a large piece of cloth, and carried it towards the silver light gate.

Not far away, Ti Hu was directing the giant ape puppets to gather the spiritual herbs. Seeing Han Li lift the field with such ease, she couldn't help but laugh.

"If I had known, I would have just moved the whole thing!" she sighed.

Han Li arrived at the silver light gate, and with a slight hook of his finger, the gate expanded, swallowing him and the field whole.

Inside the gate, the field was connected to the cave heaven spiritual field. Han Li walked to the edge of the field and found a spacious area to place the field.

He had considered moving all the fields inside, but the cave heaven's space was limited, and he couldn't use it all for the fields. Besides, he had already searched the entire secret realm and collected all the spiritual treasures and artifacts from the buildings.

To store these treasures, Han Li had even dismantled a three-story pavilion in the secret realm and rebuilt it in his own cave heaven, near the spiritual field, and named it "Cang Yao Lou".

After placing the field, Han Li immediately left the cave heaven and saw Ti Hu and the other giant ape puppets entering the silver light gate.

"Ti Hu, I've only placed the field there, but it still needs to be embedded in the cave heaven's spiritual veins and irrigated with spiritual liquid to take root," Han Li said as he passed by Ti Hu.

"Don't worry, Master, I'll take care of it!"

Ti Hu took her orders and left, and Han Li closed the silver light gate.

After finishing, he looked towards the deeper part of the secret realm.

The area was still heavily restricted, and it was clear that it would be difficult to pass through.

Han Li looked for a moment, and his brow furrowed slightly. He suppressed his spiritual energy and ran towards the restricted area, quickly disappearing into the hills.

He had only just left when several figures flew towards the area from the high skies, including the Ling Xiao Gate, Lie Guang City, and Qing Su Valley.

The people from the three sects landed and argued among themselves. The burly man from the Ling Xiao Gate, Zhang Kai, opened his arms to stop the crowd and reminded them loudly:

"Everyone, this time the Tian Shui Sect and the Tong Tian Sword Sect have also intervened, we must unite and work together to gain benefits from this secret realm. We can't let our greed get the better of us."

"Zhang Kai, stop your nonsense, what do you propose?" a Lie Guang City elder asked.

"Yang Chang, everyone, let's calm down and discuss this. I suggest we work together to harvest the spiritual herbs in this garden, and if other sects want to intervene, we'll resist together," Zhang Kai said.

"This proposal is not bad, but the secret realm has been sealed for many years, and the harvest from the spiritual herb garden will be plentiful. How will we divide it?" a Qing Su Valley elder asked.

"We'll each choose one of the three layers," Zhang Kai said.

"Alright, let's agree on that," Yang Chang said.

The three sects agreed and entered the spiritual herb garden.

But soon, a series of angry shouts came from the garden.

"What's going on..." Yang Chang shouted.

Immediately after, the Qing Su Valley elder, Fu Gu, roared: "Who was the first to harvest the herbs..."

Before the commotion died down, another voice, full of rage, shouted: "Who is the scoundrel who even dug up the spirit field?" Yu Kuohai's angry roar echoed through the air, causing the other two sects to pause, then glance at their own spirit fields. Although the older and more valuable spirit medicines had already been harvested, there were still some tens of thousands of years' worth of spirit medicines left. It was unthinkable that the entire spirit field would be dug up.

The air was filled with curses and shouts as the three sects gathered in the spirit medicine garden.

Yu Kuohai's face turned iron-gray as he gazed at the devastated landscape. The deep pit, which seemed to have been excavated recently, still had damp soil.

He leapt into the air, scanning his surroundings from above, trying to find the person responsible for the destruction. However, he found nothing.

After the three sects finished gathering the remaining spirit medicines, they reunited and began cursing the person who had harvested the spirit medicines first.

"Now, continuing to curse that scoundrel is pointless. When we arrived, the people from Huang Feng Men and Mo Xiang Lou had already gone to a nearby building, not far from here. If we hurry, we might still be able to catch up," Yu Kuohai said, suppressing his anger.

"This might lead to conflict with the two sects..." Fu Gu Zhu hesitated.

"What's to fear? They're just Huang Feng Men and Mo Xiang Lou, not the mighty Tian Shui Sect," Yang Changlao sneered.

"If they're willing to give up some of their treasures, we might let them off. But if they refuse, don't blame us for being ruthless," Yu Kuohai said with a cold smile.

The three sects agreed and immediately flew off towards the building.

However, they had only flown halfway when they saw the people from Huang Feng Men and Mo Xiang Lou flying towards them. The group had also been joined by people from Bai Yun Shan Zhuang and Wang You Ge.

The two groups met in mid-air, stopping at a distance of several hundred meters. They stared at each other, their faces unpleasant, and a sense of foreboding settled in.

"Did you... did you also get robbed?" Yu Kuohai asked hesitantly.

"Did you... did you also get robbed?" the gray-haired old woman from Huang Feng Men asked, raising an eyebrow.

"They even dug up a part of our spirit field," Yu Kuohai gritted his teeth.

"We were almost completely cleaned out."

The old woman's words were interrupted by someone behind her, "And our tower was also destroyed!"

The two groups compared notes and simultaneously cursed, "Who is this heaven-sent scoundrel?"

Meanwhile, in a nearby forest, Han Li suddenly sneezed and rubbed his nose, feeling the dry air.

His expression was slightly hesitant, and he seemed unsure of what to do.

Earlier, when the secret realm appeared, there had been a clear disturbance in the outside world, indicating that someone had entered. However, to avoid detection, Han Li had not used his divine sense to investigate, so he did not know how many people had entered or what kind of people they were.

At the moment, he was still some distance from the core of the secret realm. He wanted to break through the restrictions and arrive at the core before the others, but time was not on his side. Moreover, he did not want to conflict with these people, as it would expose his identity and attract the attention of the Xian Gong and the treasure hunters.

However, based on his experiences in the secret realm, he knew that it was not simple, and the treasures hidden within were not ordinary. Most importantly, he had sensed a hint of temporal law energy emanating from the core, which made him extremely eager to obtain it.

After some deliberation, Han Li decided on a compromise. He released a small amount of divine sense energy, scanning the surrounding area.

A moment later, he took out a crimson mask from the Wheel of Rebirth and put it on.

A burst of light enveloped him, and his face changed, becoming that of a middle-aged man with a wide nose and drooping eyelids, looking somewhat dull.

Without using his divine sense, his body suddenly shrunk, becoming shorter and more robust, like a farmer who had spent years working in the fields.

Han Li released a small amount of divine sense energy, controlling it to mimic the aura of a Golden Immortal at the early stage.

He created a water mirror in his palm and examined his reflection, nodding in satisfaction.

After putting away the mirror, Han Li disappeared into the forest, his figure flashing out of sight.

About half a quarter of an hour later, a group of people came rushing up the mountain path, making a ruckus.

Among them, the one leading the way was none other than Yu Kuohai of the Ling Xiao Sect, with Yang Zonglao of Lieyang City and Fu Gu Zhu of Qing Su Valley following closely behind. The rest of the people from the three sects trailed behind them.

"Hmph, I'd better not run into that scoundrel who stole the treasure! If I do, I'll skin him alive and pound his bones to dust. I've never met anyone as ruthless as him in all my years," Yang Zonglao said, still seething with anger, as he walked and blew his nose.

"Yang Zonglao, calm down first. We all entered the secret realm together, and we were all searching in the areas designated by the Tian Shui Sect and the Tong Tian Sword Sect. It shouldn't be possible for someone to have gotten there first," Yu Kuohai said, deep in thought.

"What do you mean... are you saying it was those two sects playing tricks on us?" Yang Zonglao asked, taken aback.

"With the treasure at stake, people's hearts are hard to fathom, and anything can happen. Maybe they sent someone to secretly collect the treasure while we were being held back by the rules," Fu Gu Zhu said, after a moment's contemplation.

As soon as he spoke, the three of them started to murmur among themselves. If it was indeed those two sects playing tricks on them, did they have the strength to confront them?

"What's our plan going forward? We can't just keep being manipulated by them," Yu Kuohai asked, after a moment's silence.

Yang Zonglao and Fu Gu Zhu exchanged a look, but neither of them spoke up.

"It's true what they say, 'a powerful dragon doesn't press down on the local snake.' We're the local sects, and we can't just be pushed around by them. If word gets out, it'll be embarrassing," Yu Kuohai sighed.

"For now, we can only take it one step at a time. When we get to the other side, we'll have to be more careful. If we can grab an opportunity, we'll take it. If not, we'll just have to make sure we're not being used as pawns," Yang Zonglao said, shaking his head.

"You're right, we can only work together to compete with them," Fu Gu Zhu said, with a sigh.

Just as they were talking, they heard a commotion coming from the front of the mountain path.

Suddenly, a stout and burly middle-aged man, with tattered clothes, came running out of the forest, looking frantic. Behind him, a massive metal beast, shaped like a wild boar, was chasing after him.

The beast was over ten meters tall, with golden fur that stood on end like steel needles, and two sharp, golden tusks protruding from its mouth. It was chasing after the middle-aged man, who was running for his life.

When the man saw the group of people in front of him, he grabbed onto them like a lifeline, shouting, "Save me, save me!"

Before anyone could react, the middle-aged man ran up to them, leapt over their heads, and landed on a nearby tree, where he collapsed.

The metal beast chased after him, and the group of people from the Ling Xiao Sect, Lieyang City, and Qing Su Valley drew their magical tools, attacking the beast.

The beast was not very strong, and it was quickly defeated by the combined efforts of the group. Yang Zonglao delivered the final blow, striking the beast's head with a flame knife, and claiming its beast nucleus.

The metal beast's body was divided among the group, as it was a valuable material for crafting magical tools.

Once the dust had settled, the group turned to the middle-aged man, who was trying to escape. Yu Kuohai shouted, "Where do you think you're going?"

The man's hand jerked, and a black whip shot out, binding him. Yu Kuohai pulled him back, and the man fell to the ground.

"This guy looks familiar, but I've never seen him before," Fu Gu Zhu said, eyeing the man suspiciously.

"I don't recognize him either," Yang Zonglao said, shaking his head.

"We can search his soul to find out what's going on," Yu Kuohai said, with a sly smile. "Fellow Daoist, let's talk this out, let's talk this out..." a middle-aged man hastily called out.

"Cut the nonsense, it's possible that this guy is that shameless tomb raider!" another person from the Ling Xiao Sect shouted.

"This person's background is unclear, it's not impossible..." Yang Lao said after a moment of contemplation.

The crowd heard this and began to agree, shouting for a soul search.

Yu Kuohai glanced at the man's somewhat wide eyebrow spacing and felt that this person looked a bit dull, not like a cunning individual. However, to be cautious, he still intended to perform a soul search on him.

This person's appearance was none other than Han Li, who had donned a mask and changed his appearance.

Earlier, he had sensed that this group was approaching, so he had a sudden idea to blend in with them and gather some useful information. Therefore, he had specifically gone to find the metal beast and lured it to chase him to this place.

However, just as he was about to make a move, he saw that the person's body suddenly flashed with golden light, and the black whip that was wrapped around him suddenly loosened, and he had already gotten up.

"Fellow Daoists, please don't be offended, I am Shi Mu," Han Li said with a bow, smiling foolishly.

The crowd saw that he had easily escaped from Yu Kuohai's restraints, and their expressions were all surprised. One by one, they drew their weapons and surrounded Han Li.

Han Li saw this and quickly used a spell to break free, explaining, "I'm not skilled in the great Dao, I only know some minor techniques. I hope you won't be offended, may I ask where this place is?"

Yu Kuohai and the others were confused by his question.

"You don't know where this is?" Yu Kuohai asked, his eyes slightly sinking.

"To be honest, I was previously in the mountains chasing after a strange beast. I don't know how I ended up in a strange mountain valley, and no matter how I looked around, I couldn't find a way out. Luckily, I know some techniques to break through obstacles, and I finally managed to break through the illusion. I ended up here, and before I could even take a few steps, I encountered that metal beast and was chased here," Han Li explained, feigning a terrified expression.

"Empty words are useless, we can't believe you. Previously, there was a thief who robbed us of many treasures and spiritual medicines before we could even get to them. We suspect that you are that person. If you want to prove your innocence, hand over your storage device, and we'll verify it," Yu Kuohai said with a cold smile.

"It's not that I'm not willing to cooperate, but my storage device is not something that can be shown to just anyone..." Han Li seemed to shrink his neck, arguing.

"Perhaps you have no choice, Fellow Daoist," Yang Lao said with a cold tone.

Han Li looked at the crowd surrounding him, his expression changing between hesitation and fear.

After a long time, he finally sighed and said, "Fine, I'll hand it over. Please take a look and let me go."

As he spoke, he removed a storage ring from his hand and handed it over.

Yu Kuohai took it and examined it with his divine sense, his eyebrows furrowing slightly as he handed it to Yang Lao.

Yang Lao also examined it and handed it to Fu Gu Zhu.

"You're a Golden Immortal, albeit only at the initial stage, how can you be so poor?" Fu Gu Zhu asked, unable to help but laugh.

"It's laughable, really... I'm just a lowly mountain hermit, I don't have the support of a sect like you all do. It's not easy to get resources for cultivation, and I don't have any savings," Han Li said with a bitter smile.

"It seems that you're indeed a careless hermit who stumbled into this..." Fu Gu Zhu said, handing the storage ring back.

Han Li quickly took it and put it back on his hand, smiling foolishly.

"Since you all have important matters to attend to, I won't bother you anymore. I'll take my leave," Han Li said, bowing and backing away.

"Wait, Shi Daoist..." Yu Kuohai suddenly said.

"Is there something else you'd like to say, Fellow Daoist?" Han Li asked, feigning confusion.

"Earlier, you said you know some techniques to break through obstacles and illusions. Is that true?" Yu Kuohai asked with a smile.

Han Li heard this and immediately put on a self-satisfied expression, replying, "I'm not bragging, but although my cultivation level is ordinary, I do have some skills in breaking through obstacles and illusions..."

"Of course, it's not comparable to your abilities, not at all..." Han Li said, seeming to realize his mistake and quickly adding.

"Yu Daoist, what's the meaning behind your question?" Yang Lao asked, transmitting his voice.

"Since the Tian Shui Sect and the Tong Tian Sword Sect want to use us as cannon fodder, why don't we find a cannon fodder to take the lead? This person has arrived, and he claims to be skilled in breaking through obstacles. Isn't that convenient?" Yu Kuohai replied, his expression unchanging as he transmitted his voice.

Han Li couldn't hear the whispers exchanged between Yu Kuohai and the others, but with his years of experience in navigating the complexities of human relationships, he could roughly guess the content of their conversation.

He thought to himself for a moment, his face expressionless, as he glanced around, seemingly pondering something.

This scene naturally caught the attention of Yang Zong and Yu Kuohai, who exchanged a knowing glance, their eyes returning to Han Li.

"Friends, could you point me in the right direction, so I can leave? I have urgent matters to attend to," Han Li said with a deliberate tone.

Yu Kuohai's face was filled with a rich smile as he replied, "Ah, Brother Shi, why the haste? Let me tell you, your luck has arrived. You've stumbled into a sacred realm, where opportunities and treasures abound. As long as you follow us, you'll surely gain something."

Han Li's voice rose in excitement, "What, a sacred realm? You mean this place? I said it looked unusual."

Yu Kuohai continued, "Yes, this is the sacred realm of the Tai Sui Immortal, a true immortal of the Great Luo Realm. Brother Shi, you've stumbled into this place by chance, and who knows, it might be a great opportunity destined for you. Don't miss it!"

Fu Guzhu also chimed in, "That's right! We come from all over, and we're all fellow practitioners of renowned sects. Since we've met, why not explore this sacred realm together? We might find a great opportunity!"

Han Li listened to their words, his heart coldly amused. If he hadn't already seen through their intentions, he feared that other unsuspecting cultivators might be swayed by their flattery.

The others around him seemed to be standing randomly, but they had subtly formed a circle around Han Li, their faces mostly smiling, but it was clear they wouldn't let him slip away easily.

Han Li pretended to be hesitant, rubbing his chin, and muttered, "This..."

Yu Kuohai saw this and thought he had Han Li in the bag, so he made a gesture to Yang Zong.

Yang Zong understood and spoke up, "Brother Shi, since you're stuck here anyway, why not join us? We're stronger together, and it's safer that way."

Han Li seemed to be wavering, and Fu Guzhu's face turned serious, "Brother Shi, don't you look down on the Ling Xiao Sect, Lie Guang City, and our Qing Su Valley?"

Han Li quickly bowed his head, "I wouldn't dare. Thank you for your kindness. I'll follow you, and I won't seek any great rewards, just the chance to serve you."

Fu Guzhu was surprised by Han Li's words, and he whispered to the others, "This guy's not bad, if he can take care of himself later, we can spare his life."

Yu Kuohai laughed, "Don't worry, Brother Shi, as long as you help us, we won't let you lose out."

Han Li nodded enthusiastically, his face filled with a mixture of fear and gratitude.

After some small talk, the group set off again, heading deeper into the sacred realm.

Yang Zong suddenly asked, "Brother Shi, didn't you find anything on your way here?"

Han Li looked embarrassed, "I didn't know I was in a sacred realm until you told me. I wasn't looking for treasures, and soon I encountered that metal beast. I was chased and didn't even remember how I got here."

Yu Kuohai waved his hand, "It's okay, now that we're together, we'll take care of each other."

Han Li bowed his head, "Thank you, everyone."

Yu Kuohai and the others exchanged a glance, their eyes filled with a hint of disdain, thinking that Han Li was a timid and foolish middle-aged man who would be easy to manipulate.

As they continued on their journey, they introduced themselves, and Han Li learned that they were all from different sects.

The group followed a winding mountain path, and Han Li remained silent, listening to their conversation. He discovered that eight out of ten sentences were curses directed at those who had previously stolen treasures.

The remaining two sentences were also not kind, but they were directed at the Tian Shui Sect and the Tong Tian Sword Sect.

Han Li waited for an opportunity to ask, "Brother Yu, are there people from the Tian Shui Sect and the Tong Tian Sword Sect in this sacred realm?"

Yu Kuohai didn't want to answer, but seeing Han Li's fearful expression, he replied, "Don't worry, Brother Shi, this sacred realm is vast, and they can't monopolize it. We'll have our own opportunities."

Fu Guzhu added, "If we encounter any problems, we can always join forces with the Huang Feng Sect and the Mo Xiang Lou. United, we'll be a force to be reckoned with, and those two sects will have to be cautious."

Han Li nodded quickly, relieved, "That's good, that's good..."

Fu Guzhu saw Han Li's reaction and couldn't help but smile mockingly, but he quickly suppressed it.

He didn't know that Han Li wasn't concerned about the Tian Shui Sect and the Tong Tian Sword Sect, but rather about the Qi Mozi and the Xian Gong.

Han Li asked again, "Are there any other sects or forces that I should be aware of?"

Fu Guzhu was slightly annoyed, "Brother Shi, why are you so concerned about this? What's the point of knowing?" Fu Dao You, I'm not afraid of not recognizing the true person, but what if I accidentally provoke someone I shouldn't, wouldn't that be causing trouble for all of you?" Han Li said with a hint of displeasure.

"Stone Dao You is right to consider this, it's worth paying attention to. However, aside from the Tian Shui Sect and the Tong Tian Sword Sect, others will leave us alone as long as they don't provoke us." Yang Lao pointed his head in agreement.

Han Li listened to this and sighed inwardly, thinking that this was just empty words.

However, from their conversation, it could be seen that whether Qi Mo Zi and the Xian Gong people came or not, at least they didn't show up in their true form. If they had, with their Da Luo realm cultivation, these people wouldn't be so calm and composed.

The specific situation could only be observed by following them.

Han Li didn't ask any more questions, and the rest of the people seemed to be preoccupied with their own thoughts, so the group fell silent.

The crowd walked quietly in the forest for several hours, until finally, a magnificent crimson-colored grand hall appeared in front of them.

Upon seeing the grand hall, Yu Kuo Hai and the others didn't show any excitement, instead, they looked worried, fearing that it was another useless grand hall that had been plundered.

The crowd arrived at the grand hall, and Yu Kuo Hai went forward to examine it for a moment before letting out a sigh of relief, saying:

"Fortunately, the seal is still intact..."

"Stone Dao You, you're skilled at breaking seals, why don't you take a look at this seal?" Yang Lao said with a smile, glancing at Han Li.

"Alright, I'll give it a try!"

Han Li knew that this was another test, so he pretended to be confident and made a show of his abilities.

He walked to the entrance of the grand hall, looked it up and down, and saw that the door was adorned with a circular iron plate engraved with two beasts biting each other's tails, surrounded by eight lightning symbols.

Han Li recognized the eight symbols, which represented the legendary Eight Lightning Gods, and the two beasts in the center were the Yin and Yang Lightning Beasts.

However, he didn't immediately speak up, instead, he stood to the side, scratching his ear and deep in thought, looking puzzled.

Yu Kuo Hai looked at him impatiently and asked: "Stone Dao You, do you recognize this seal or not? If you can't break it, I'll use force to break it open."

"Yu Dao You, this... the two beasts on the iron plate I recognize, but the surrounding symbols are only half-understood. I only know that this seal is related to lightning, and if we force it open, we might trigger the seal and cause the entire grand hall to be destroyed by lightning, and we won't get anything." Han Li said with a hesitant expression.

"Oh, is that so?" Yu Kuo Hai asked, sounding uncertain.

"Yu Dao You, if you don't believe me, you can try using a little force to test it, and you'll see if it's really related to lightning." Han Li said with a wry smile.

Yu Kuo Hai's expression changed, and he suddenly smiled, saying:

"Stone Dao You's words, I naturally believe. But how do you plan to break this seal, do you have a good method?"

"We need to try it out first, I wonder which Dao You can help me with?" Han Li looked at the crowd, saying.

The crowd looked at each other, and then turned their gaze to Han Li.

"Everyone..." Han Li said with a bitter smile.

"Stone Dao You, since you're the one who breaks seals, it's only natural that you try it yourself." Yang Lao said with a chuckle.

The rest of the people nodded in agreement.

"Since that's the case, then please, everyone, take a step back. After all, this is a Xian family's seal, and its power is hard to say..." Han Li said with a helpless expression.

The crowd retreated over a hundred feet, and Han Li turned his back to them, a smile appearing on his face as he began to break the seal.

For Han Li, breaking the seal wasn't difficult, and after a few dozen breaths, he used the Xie Ye Shen Lei in his body to connect with the seal and break it open.

However, he didn't make a sound, instead, he used his heart to contact the Jing Yan Huo Niao, and quietly released it from the gap in the door.

After a few dozen breaths, Han Li's hands suddenly flashed with silver lightning, and a loud "boom" sound was heard as he flew backward.

The crowd was shocked, and no one noticed a flash of silver fire that flew out from the lightning and disappeared into Han Li's sleeve.

Han Li flew out over a hundred feet before landing heavily on the ground, his clothes torn and tattered, looking like he had suffered a great loss.

Yang Lao and the others glanced at him, saw that the grand hall's entrance was open, and rushed inside.

However, after a short while, the sound of shouting and cursing came from inside the grand hall.

"I didn't tell you to take everything, leave some for them, did I?" Han Li was slightly taken aback, and he communicated with the Jingyan Firebird through his divine sense.

However, the Jingyan Firebird didn't respond, and it had been in a daze since it swallowed the Jiu Yang Fire Gallbladder. It seemed that it still hadn't woken up.

Han Li saw this and could only shake his head helplessly. He found a place to sit down.

A moment later, the others reluctantly came out of the temple, their faces filled with disappointment.

"Stone friend, are you okay?" Yang Lao asked, walking forward a few steps.

"I'm fine, just some minor injuries," Han Li replied, opening his dark and dusty palms.

"Damn it, even the well-sealed temple had nothing. What bad luck!" Fu Gu Zhu scowled, muttering to himself.

"Thanks to Stone friend, this time we didn't gain anything, but we'll definitely find something good inside. Let's go deeper," Yu Kuohai said, helping Han Li up.

"Thank you," Han Li replied gratefully.

The group rested for a moment before continuing on their way. Along the way, they encountered several more buildings, all of which Han Li opened the seals for. The others went inside to search for treasure, but they didn't find anything valuable. However, they did manage to find some minor treasures.

Time passed quickly, and several days went by.

Han Li and his group finally emerged from the mountains and arrived at the entrance of a gray canyon.

Inside the canyon, mist swirled, and in the distance, a massive gray tower stood, its peak piercing the clouds.

"This tower looks extraordinary! Let's go take a look!" Yu Kuohai exclaimed, his face filled with excitement. He quickly led the group forward, and soon they arrived at the tower.

The gray tower was ancient and majestic, with a diameter of dozens of miles. Its height surpassed the surrounding mountains, and its peak seemed to touch the clouds.

The tower's surface was covered in gray lightning patterns, and from time to time, gray-black lightning bolts shot out, dancing around the tower like snakes. The air around the tower seemed to tremble, as if it might be torn apart at any moment.

At the top of the tower, a massive golden flame burned, its light shining brightly like the sun.

However, despite its brilliance, the flame seemed to exist in a different space, and it was impossible to reach.

As the group approached the tower, Yu Kuohai's excitement turned to disappointment.

The ground in front of the tower was crowded with people.

"Hmph, it seems everyone's here!" Yu Kuohai grumbled.

Han Li ignored the crowd and looked up at the golden flame on the tower's peak.

Within the flame, he could sense the fluctuations of the time law, which seemed to be restrained by some unknown force.

Although it was only a faint echo, Han Li could feel the profound power of the time law, and his eyes sparkled with excitement.

"Let's go down! Stone friend, remember to be careful and watch your words," Yu Kuohai said, turning to Han Li.

Han Li nodded hastily.

The group gathered in front of the gray tower, and the leaders of the various factions, including Lei Yuze, Su Ci, and others, stood at the entrance of a massive stone door at the base of the tower. The door was adorned with the words "Sui Yue Tower" in large characters.

The door was gray-black in color, with intricate lightning patterns and a gray lightning screen that emitted a frightening hissing sound.

Lei Yuze, Su Ci, and the others seemed to be discussing something.

Han Li had gathered information about the various factions along the way, and he had a good understanding of their leaders.

He glanced at the group before looking away.

The people from Ling Xiao Men, Qing Su Valley, and Lie Guang City arrived, but they didn't attract much attention from the crowd. Most people glanced at them before turning back to the tower, excitedly discussing the possibilities.

At this moment, in a corner of the crowd, the blue-robed siblings, Lan Yuanzi and Lan Cai, stood together.

"I didn't expect to find such a massive tower in the depths of the secret realm. The treasure left behind by the Tai Sui Immortal is probably here," Lan Yuanzi said, his eyes shining with excitement.

The siblings had come to the Jin Yuan Xian Domain to capture Han Li, but they didn't want to miss this opportunity.

"This tower's lightning power is incredibly strong. Do you recognize what kind of lightning this is?" Lan Cai asked, looking at the tower with curiosity.

"It's probably some kind of yin lightning. I don't know much about lightning, though..." Lan Yuanzi replied, his expression changing suddenly.

"Wait, what's that?" Lan Yuanzi's eyes widened as he stared at Han Li, who was standing not far away. Han Li's palm flashed with a blue light, and a blue circular mirror appeared, with layers of blue light rippling on its surface like water waves.

"Brother..." said a voice beside him, with a brightening of the eyes.

"It's Han Li!" Lan Yuanzi's face lit up with joy, and he immediately began to manipulate the mirror with his fingers.

At the same time, as soon as Han Li landed, the time laws within his body suddenly fluctuated, as if something had triggered them.

"Someone is using a sensing divine artifact to sense me!" he thought to himself, immediately understanding what was happening.

He quickly activated the "Wan Qiao Kong Ji Technique", closing all of his divine orifices, and simultaneously activated the "Da Wu Xing Huan Shi Jue", intertwining the five time laws to form a seal-like existence that hid in the depths of his body.

Han Li's divine spirit energy also withdrew, not emitting a single thread of energy.

The "Da Wu Xing Huan Shi Jue" was the most superior time cultivation technique, not only powerful, but also extremely skilled in concealing one's aura.

Han Li's current cultivation had reached the peak of the Tai Yi stage, and the various uses of the "Da Wu Xing Huan Shi Jue" were gradually unfolding.

On the other side, Lan Yuanzi was frantically manipulating the blue mirror, but the ripples on its surface suddenly disappeared, returning to its original state.

Lan Yuanzi was shocked, but eventually accepted reality, stopping his actions.

"What's wrong? Did we sense incorrectly?" Lan Yan asked, her eyebrows furrowed.

"The sensing mirror suddenly lost the sense of Han Li's aura, it seems he detected someone sensing him and hid his aura. This person is quite cautious," Lan Yuanzi said, his face looking unpleasant.

"How could this be? The sensing mirror is a precious treasure given by our master, even a Da Luo existence might not be able to evade its sensing," Lan Yan said, surprised.

"It seems Han Li is not simple, but this time, we didn't gain nothing, at least we can confirm that Han Li is in the vicinity," Lan Yuanzi said, his eyes narrowing as he looked at the surrounding crowd.

"That's right! And the group of people who just arrived are suspicious, as soon as they got here, the sensing mirror reacted, Han Li might be hiding among them," Lan Yan said, looking at the disciples of the Ling Xiao Gate and the other two great sects.

"Very likely, but we can't completely ignore the others," Lan Yuanzi said, nodding thoughtfully.

Lan Yan nodded, about to continue investigating.

"Don't act rashly, we currently can't confirm Han Li's identity, and he probably hasn't discovered us yet. Now, we need to compete with him in endurance and observation, to see who finds the other first, I don't believe he can keep his aura hidden forever," Lan Yuanzi immediately stopped Lan Yan's actions, smiling coldly and revealing his white teeth.

"With brother you taking action, Han Li will soon be caught, and now he's even sent himself to our doorstep, how convenient!" Lan Yan said, her face filled with admiration.

...

"Who could be sensing me... Qi Mozi? It doesn't feel like him, if Qi Mozi had such a sensing technique, he would have used it earlier. Or maybe it's someone else, like the Lan siblings from the Jiu Yuan Guan?" Han Li thought to himself, his mind racing as he looked at the surrounding crowd.

"It's him!" his eyes suddenly stopped on a young man, but quickly moved away, not wanting to draw attention.

That person was Xiong Shan, currently standing at the edge of the crowd with a group of loose cultivators.

Han Li had only met him briefly at the Jin Yuan Xian Gong, but his impression was deep, and he wouldn't mistake him.

"This person's appearance is unfamiliar, but gives me a familiar feeling, who is he? And since he's here, Qi Mozi must also be here, maybe the person from earlier was really Qi Mozi..." Han Li thought, his mind racing with possibilities.

He didn't dare to act rashly, knowing that he couldn't guarantee his safety against Qi Mozi, a Da Luo of time.

Moreover, if the Lan siblings from the Jiu Yuan Guan were also here, it would be a troublesome matter.

Just as Han Li was thinking, Yu Kuo Hai and the others arrived at the giant stone door, having arranged their teams.

" Alliance leader!" Yu Kuo Hai said.

"Ah, Yu Dao friend, Yang Chang Lao, Fu Gu Zhu, how were your gains?" Lei Yu Ce asked, looking at the three.

"Don't mention it, almost everything has been taken by others! How infuriating!" Yu Kuo Hai said, annoyed.

"Yu Dao friend, don't worry, the age-restricting formation of the tower is still intact, and the treasures inside should still be there. However, the thousand-zi-yin thunder formation on the door is difficult to break, we're discussing countermeasures. The three of you are experienced, since you've arrived, let's discuss it together," Lei Yu Ce said, his tone neutral.

Yu Kuo Hai and the others looked at each other.

"If we're talking about breaking formations, with Lei Dao friend here, what can we say? Lei Dao friend has already recognized the formation on the door, you must have a plan to break it," Fu Gu Zhu said, flattering.

"I wouldn't say that, but I do have a plan to break it, however, I need everyone's help," Lei Yu Ce said, smiling.

"No problem, Lei Dao friend, just give the orders," Yu Kuo Hai and the others said, thumping their chests.

"Very well, I'll explain the plan...," Lei Yu Ce said, his eyes flashing with satisfaction.

The group discussed for half an hour, then dispersed, each person gathering their teams, and eventually gathering nearly a hundred people to draw formation patterns on the ground, setting up formation tools, and so on.

Near the tower, Lei Yu Ce and Wen Zhong stood side by side, quietly watching the scene before them.

"Lei Dao You, how confident are you in this method?" Wen Zhong asked in a low voice.

"Even if it's not 90% certain, 67% is still possible. Besides, to obtain the Years Lamp, even if there's only a 10% chance, I'd still want to try. Isn't that what you're thinking, Wen Dao You?" Lei Yu Ce's eyes flashed with a hint of sharpness as he replied.

"According to rumors, the Years Lamp is a divine artifact forged by the Ta Sui Celestial after a lifetime of effort. Who knows what kind of treasure it is?" Wen Zhong's face showed a hint of expectation.

"Speaking of which, Lei Vice Master, your affection for Su Wan is your personal matter, but the Years Lamp concerns the future development of the Tong Tian Sword Sect. You mustn't let personal feelings get in the way of important matters," Wen Zhong said, his eyes narrowing slightly.

"Don't worry, as Vice Master, I naturally understand what to do," Lei Yu Ce replied, his brow furrowed.

"Good," Wen Zhong's expression relaxed.

Under the busy hands of nearly a hundred people, the array patterns on the ground were quickly etched. In just half a day, the area in front of the gray tower was filled with two enormous black and white arrays.

The two arrays complemented each other, forming a yin-yang pattern.

"This is..." Han Li, mixed in with the crowd, looked at the arrays before him, his eyes flashing with insight. He quickly connected with Ti Huo and Jing Yan Tong Zi.

After a few breaths, he emitted a hot and cold aura mixed together.

"Everyone, this is the dual-array design created by the Alliance Master to break the tower's seal. Each array requires fifty cultivators to activate. I'll now select the participants," Wen Zhong announced, hovering in mid-air.

The crowd of cultivators gathered before the tower, numbering over a thousand, stirred with unease. No one dared to speak out, only praying silently that they wouldn't be chosen.

Anyone could see the terror of the tower's seal, and breaking it would undoubtedly be perilous.

Wen Zhong saw the crowd's expressions and knew their thoughts. He smiled coldly and began to directly select the participants.

"You, you, you..."

Each person he pointed out was shot with a beam of white light, which lingered on their body.

In a short time, the Alliance cultivators had selected a hundred people, although they weren't very willing. These people, however, stepped forward.

The selected hundred cultivators had varying levels of cultivation, from Tai Yi to Golden Immortal, and even True Immortal. However, they all shared one characteristic: they cultivated either extreme yang or yin techniques, each accounting for half.

"Indeed, it's a yin-yang dual-array..." Han Li's eyes flashed with insight as he muttered to himself.

If it were an ordinary day, taking some risks to activate the array for treasure would be acceptable. But he was currently being secretly watched, and he couldn't afford to enter the array. So, he used his secret technique to transfer some of the essence of Ti Huo and Jing Yan Tong Zi into his body, creating a mixed aura.

Han Li had previously traveled with Yu Kuo Hai and the others for a few days, but he hadn't openly revealed his cultivation technique. His aura changed slightly, but it didn't arouse the suspicions of the three.

On the other side, the Lan siblings cultivated techniques with yin-cold attributes. Although they used secret techniques to conceal their true cultivation, their aura itself couldn't be changed, and they were selected into the yin-attribute group of fifty.

Perhaps to avoid complications, they reluctantly followed orders.

"This is terrible luck..." Lan Yan sat at a node within the black array, complaining in a low voice.

"Just endure it for now, and be careful not to reveal your true cultivation," Lan Yuan Zi replied.

"I know, brother. Don't worry, this level of array is nothing to worry about," Lan Yan guaranteed.

"Excuse me, Wen Senior, is there any danger in activating this dual-array to break the seal?" a black-robed middle-aged man asked, his voice trembling.

"Exploring the treasure realm's secrets, how could there be no danger? If you're so afraid of death, why did you come here in the first place?" Wen Zhong glanced at the man, his expression cold.

The black-robed man's face turned bright red, and he quickly lowered his head, not daring to speak again.

"You don't need to worry too much. This time, breaking the tower's seal is a matter of using an array to break an array. Although there's some danger, it should be manageable. Besides, all participants will be rewarded by the Alliance afterward. You won't be working for nothing," Wen Zhong said, his voice carrying as he tried to reassure the crowd.

Upon hearing this, the cultivators' expressions slightly improved.

"Let's begin!" Lei Yu Ce said, hovering above the two arrays.

The arrays on the ground began to rotate, emitting bright black and white light.

The cultivators within the arrays were restricted by a powerful seal, unable to move. At the same time, the arrays emitted a devouring force, rapidly absorbing their spiritual energy.

The cultivators' hearts skipped a beat, but they soon realized that aside from the absorption of spiritual energy, there were no other abnormalities. They gradually calmed down.

Lei Yu Ce carefully observed the operation of the two arrays, seeing that everything was proceeding smoothly. He nodded slightly and then joined his hands together before separating them again.

The arrays continued to rotate, emitting even more intense black and white light. The black and white spell arrays each shone brightly, and immediately, a hundred or so thick black and white light bands flew out from the two arrays, rushing towards the gray stone gate of the giant tower.

The lightning seal on the stone gate seemed to sense the threat, and suddenly brightened, with thick gray and black lightning bolts appearing, each emitting a wave of law power, cutting through the black and white light bands.

The black and white light bands were like paper, instantly torn apart and scattered.

"What a powerful yin lightning!" Han Li exclaimed, his pupils shrinking as he spoke.

The law power emitted by this yin lightning was completely opposite to the thunder law power born from the Qingzhu Fengyun sword.

The thunder law power within the Qingzhu Fengyun sword had inherited the characteristics of the evil-warding divine thunder, being strong and masculine, while these black lightning bolts were the opposite, emitting a strong yin evil aura.

If possible, he would like to study these yin lightning bolts.

Lei Yu Ce, however, did not react, seemingly having anticipated this, and he muttered to himself, his hands flying quickly to form a seal.

The black and white spell arrays on the ground suddenly burst with light, increasing in brightness by more than tenfold, forming a hundred giant black and white light columns.

A surging yin-yang energy was emitted from the two giant light columns.

Lei Yu Ce formed a seal, and a black and white flag flew out from his body, floating above his head.

The white flag had a sun pattern embroidered on it, while the black flag had a moon pattern, both emitting a shocking spiritual power wave, as well as law power waves, clearly being high-quality immortal artifacts.

He raised his hands, and the black and white flags rotated rapidly in the air.

The black and white light columns were affected by the black and white flags, and they began to entwine and rotate together, faster and faster, forming a massive black and white dual-colored whirlwind.

The whirlwind emitted a dazzling black and white light, and a strong law power wave.

"Go!" Lei Yu Ce shouted, pushing his hands forward.

The black and white whirlwind immediately rushed forward, sweeping towards the base of the gray giant tower, rapidly rotating.

A loud rumbling sound echoed out.

The gray and black lightning around the gray giant tower surged again, even more violently than before, with countless gray and black lightning bolts appearing, striking the black and white whirlwind, emitting a sound like iron sheets rubbing against each other.

Especially on the stone gate, even more gray and black lightning bolts appeared, like giant dragons, extremely frightening, and the void around them shattered.

However, the black and white whirlwind did not shatter like the previous black and white light bands, but instead, as it rotated rapidly, it sucked in the gray and black lightning bolts.

The gray and black lightning bolts were like fish caught in a net, unable to escape no matter how hard they struggled.

The cultivators around them cheered at the sight.

The black and white spell arrays suddenly erupted, and the immortal spiritual energy within the people inside the arrays surged out like a tide, and a wave of yin evil lightning power was transmitted through the air, causing the people inside the arrays to reveal painful expressions.

Lan Yan's eyebrows furrowed, feeling a wave of yin evil lightning power transmitted into her body, like countless small insects biting her meridians, extremely painful.

However, she had deep cultivation, and could still withstand it, but her heart was secretly complaining.

Among the crowd, Han Li gazed at the hundred cultivators inside the arrays, his eyes flashing with a hint of light, and his divine sense quietly spread out.

Although it was not good to suspect that the person controlling the arrays was working hard, the opportunity was too good to pass up, and if the person being tracked was inside the arrays, now was the best time to investigate.

In mid-air, Lei Yu Ce's hands flew quickly to form a seal, and the black and white whirlwind rotated rapidly, slowly rising upwards.

The lightning bolts that were sucked in were also brought upwards, and the lightning flower patterns on the tower's surface dimmed, no longer emitting gray and black lightning bolts, as if the yin lightning power above had also been taken away.

After a short while, the black and white whirlwind had risen over ten zhang, and stopped.

Although it was only a short while, to the hundred people inside the arrays, it seemed like an eternity, and some people with shallow cultivation had their internal energy drained, and they fell to the ground, bleeding from their seven orifices.

At this moment, the people around them were all struggling to withstand the pain, and naturally, they didn't care about the lives of those around them, and the people outside were all changing color, with some people secretly rejoicing that they hadn't been chosen to enter the arrays, but more people's gazes were fixed on the gray giant tower.

As more and more gray and black lightning bolts appeared from the gray giant tower's seal, striking the black and white whirlwind, it seemed that the actions of the crowd had completely enraged the seal.

The black and white whirlwind was still rotating rapidly, blocking all the lightning bolts, but it was clearly slower than before.

Below the whirlwind, the stone gate of the giant tower appeared, and the gray and black lightning bolts on it had disappeared, leaving only a thin layer of crystal clear light, covering the stone gate.

This layer of crystal clear light was similar to the transparent seal at the entrance of the secret realm, and it looked even thicker.

Chapter:

Lei Yu Ce's eyes saw this scene, his face slightly sank, and then he gritted his teeth, his body immediately shot out, and in an instant, he appeared in front of the stone door, his hands pressing on the light screen.

Hiss! Hiss! Hiss!

108 golden flying needles shot out from his body, each with a lifelike golden dragon carved on the end, encircling the needle, with clear scales and claws, and a clear head and tail, as if they wanted to ride the clouds and drive the fog, and were crafted with exceptional skill.

In the blink of an eye, the 108 flying needles all pierced into the crystal light screen, embedding nearly half of them.

"Golden Light Absolute Immortal Needle!" someone in the distant crowd shouted.

Lei Yu Ce muttered to himself, and the golden flying needles burst forth with dazzling golden light, and rapidly vibrated.

The crystal light screen shook and trembled, and burst forth with dazzling crystal light, and emitted a piercing shriek, like the sound of thousands of swords clashing.

"Break!"

Lei Yu Ce's eyes flashed with a hint of pain, and the next moment, he suddenly became resolute, his hand grasping the incantation gesture, and his mouth loudly shouted!

The 108 golden needles' light burst forth again, and in an instant, they all disappeared into the crystal light screen, and then exploded inside.

A series of massive explosions shook the air!

The crystal light screen instantly appeared with countless cracks, and then shattered with a loud crash, turning into countless streams of light that scattered, revealing the dark green stone door inside, with no longer any obstruction.

Lei Yu Ce's face relaxed, and the distant crowd of cultivators cheered again, and the cultivators inside the array on the ground also let out a long sigh.

But at this moment, the thunder patterns on the giant tower above suddenly lit up, and flashed wildly, and countless thick gray-black lightning bolts shot out from them, with power and quantity far surpassing before, sweeping out in a fan shape in all directions.

The black and white whirlwind was already weak, and was easily torn apart by the gray lightning.

The black and white double flags fell from the scattered whirlwind, already shattered into several pieces, and no longer had any spiritual energy.

Countless gray lightning bolts broke through the black and white whirlwind, and continued to pour down, covering the ground.

Lei Yu Ce's face changed greatly, and his body flashed, instantly shooting out dozens of miles away, avoiding the danger.

The crowd of cultivators in front of the tower also retreated in shock, and Han Li also retreated with them, floating backward.

He had actually discovered the giant tower's restriction was abnormal earlier than others, but he didn't immediately retreat, and instead waited for a moment, to avoid drawing attention.

The crowd of cultivators in front of the tower were still some distance away, and their reaction was quick, but some people were too close and didn't react in time, and were affected, their bodies directly exploding, and their Nascent Souls couldn't escape.

As for the hundred people inside the array on the ground, they were still bound by the large array, and couldn't escape, and were engulfed by the countless gray-black lightning bolts.

Dazzling electric arcs flashed and danced, forming a gray-black lightning sea, and the terrifying lightning laws churned within, and everything that touched the gray-black lightning was instantly reduced to ashes.

Pitiful screams echoed from the lightning sea, and then immediately disappeared.

Han Li saw this scene, and silently sighed, and then felt a deep sense of wariness towards the ancient tower.

Just the outside restrictions were this dangerous, and the inside situation was naturally even more so.

But at this moment, his eyes suddenly focused, and he vaguely saw a blue light flash in the lightning sea.

Immediately, the lightning sea transmitted a shocking explosion, and a large burst of dazzling white light erupted from within, forming a crescent shape, and the light was dazzling and piercing, tearing apart the gray-black lightning sea.

"Whoosh" "Whoosh" sounds echoed, and over a dozen escape lights shot out from the lightning sea, flying like meteors to the safe area outside, revealing the figures of over a dozen cultivators.

These people were the strongest cultivators from before, with three Taiyi Realm cultivators, and the rest were Golden Immortal peak and Golden Immortal late-stage cultivators.

None of them were unscathed, their clothes were tattered, and their bodies were covered in wounds, and some people were missing hands or feet, looking pitiful and disheveled.

The gray-black lightning sea flashed a few times, and then dissipated, and the ground was scorched black, and a layer of earth was scraped away, and the people inside had all disappeared, leaving only some scattered fragments of immortal artifacts.

Seeing this scene, the crowd's faces were difficult to look at.

"Lei Yu Ce, Wen Zhong, didn't you two say that breaking the restriction wouldn't be too dangerous? What's going on now?" a middle-aged man in a white Daoist robe stepped forward, his face pale, and coldly questioned Lei Yu Ce and Wen Zhong.

The middle-aged man had a white moon wheel immortal artifact floating in front of him, but its light was dim, and its spiritual energy was greatly lost. The master of the Ling Yue Pavilion, Tian Yue Dao Ren, had reached the mid-stage of the Tai Yi Realm, making him one of the strongest among the group. He had also been selected to join the top 100.

Not only was Tian Yue Dao Ren affected, but the Ling Yue Pavilion's expertise in the extreme yin technique had also led to many of their members entering the double-life formation. Now, they had all been wiped out, and Tian Yue Dao Ren was furious.

The other survivors glared at Lei Yu Ce and his companions.

Many members of the Alliance's large group also looked at Lei Yu Ce with anger in their eyes.

Tian Shui Zong had also had someone enter the double-life formation, but they had not fallen. Therefore, Su Xun and Jin Liu did not ask any questions, instead standing quietly to the side.

"Everyone, please calm down. This was unexpected, even for me," Lei Yu Ce said, his face slightly pale. "I originally thought that if we broke the seal on the stone door, the thousand-needle yin thunder formation on the tower would also disperse. But I didn't expect this to happen."

Tian Yue Dao Ren listened to Lei Yu Ce's words, but his expression did not change, and his anger only intensified.

"Everyone, this is a tragic event, and I and the Alliance leader are also deeply saddened. However, as I said before, we are taking a great risk by exploring the immortal's mansion and the mysterious realm. Who knows when we will die? Life and death are determined by fate. Moreover, the Alliance leader broke two of his precious treasures to break the seal on the tower, which was a huge loss."

Wen Zhong, who was standing next to Lei Yu Ce, stepped forward and said, "This is an unexpected disaster, and it's not right to blame it on one person. The Alliance leader did it for the sake of all of us, so that we could enter the Years Tower and explore its treasures. If not, the casualties would be even greater. Everyone, please calm down."

Jin Liu also spoke up, "For those who unfortunately died, the Alliance will provide some compensation after we finish exploring the immortal's mansion. Everyone, please don't worry."

Tian Shui Zong and Tong Tian Jian Pai both said this, but Tian Yue Dao Ren's expression was still uncertain, and he coldly snorted before turning to leave.

The others were intimidated by the two sects' power and did not dare to say anything else.

Han Li stood in the crowd, but he did not pay attention to the argument. Instead, he glanced at the ten or so people who had just flown out, and behind them, he saw two people, a man and a woman, standing quietly. They were the Lan siblings.

Han Li's divine sense was extremely strong, and he had clearly sensed a powerful spiritual pressure in the thunder sea, which seemed to be a water attribute technique. It was not inferior to his own abilities.

It was this spiritual pressure that had actually opened the thunder sea, not Tian Yue Dao Ren's moon wheel immortal tool.

"From the aura of that spiritual pressure, it seems that it was these two people. They are hiding their true identities, and their clothing and attire suggest that they are cultivators of the water attribute. And they are two people... Could they be the Lan siblings from the Jin Han Xian Palace?" Han Li quickly withdrew his gaze, and his mind began to spin with thoughts.

"Brother, I'm sorry. Earlier, I was in a hurry and accidentally broke through the thunder sea. Will we be discovered?" Lan Yan's eyes flashed with a hint of guilt as she whispered to her brother.

"It's okay, Lan Yan. Even if you didn't act, I would have. And the thunder sea's power was enough to conceal your aura. With the divine sense of the people here, it's impossible for them to detect anything," Lan Yuan Zi reassured her.

Lan Yan listened to her brother's words and felt a slight sense of relief.

Tian Shui Zong and Tong Tian Jian Pai walked together, discussing something in hushed tones.

"Now that the seal on the Years Tower has been broken, we shouldn't waste any more time. Let's enter the tower quickly, or we might be surpassed by others. However, the seal on the tower was so powerful, and the inside will surely be even more dangerous. The Alliance leader and I have discussed this, and we've decided that those with lower cultivation should not enter the tower. It's better to avoid any more casualties and grievances."

Jin Liu stepped forward and said, "Those with cultivation below the Gold Immortal Realm should not enter the tower. The risk is too great, and the survival rate is low. It's better for them to stay outside and keep watch."

This statement caused a stir among the crowd.

"Jin Liu, what do you mean by 'lower cultivation'?" a Gold Immortal Realm cultivator asked immediately.

"Those below the Gold Immortal Realm are too weak and should stay outside," Jin Liu replied.

"This is unfair! We were all called to participate in the formation earlier, and now that the seal has been broken, you're not letting us enter the tower. What's the logic behind this?"

Many of the cultivators from the sects and the scattered immortals began to argue and protest.

"Silence!" Lei Yu Ce's voice was not loud, but the air around him seemed to vibrate with a powerful aura.

The cultivators who had been arguing were immediately silenced, their faces pale.

"This decision is for everyone's safety. However, the Alliance will give 30% of the treasures we find inside the tower to those who stay outside as compensation. You can also choose to leave and explore other areas. This secret realm is vast, and time is limited. There's no need for everyone to gather here."

Lei Yu Ce's words calmed the crowd, and many of the cultivators began to nod in agreement.

The sects and the scattered immortals both felt that this was a fair decision, and they began to make arrangements for their members to stay outside and keep watch.

"Time is of the essence, let's enter the tower!"

Lei Yu Ce's voice was low and urgent, and his body swayed slightly as he moved to the entrance of the tower.

The others followed closely behind him.

Without the True Immortal realm cultivators, there were now fewer than five hundred people, and Han Li blended in with the crowd, following at a relatively safe distance.

At the same time, his eyes occasionally swept towards another direction, where two cultivators who seemed unremarkable were standing. The man had thick eyebrows, and the woman had a round face and cherry lips.

They were the ones Han Li had suspected of being the "Lan siblings".

Although he still couldn't confirm their true identities, he felt that even if they weren't the Lan siblings, they were still worth paying attention to.

Since the Taishu Fu secret realm had opened, the Golden Source Immortal Palace still didn't have a leader, but Han Li didn't think the Heavenly Court would really sit idly by. Since no one from the Heavenly Court had appeared yet, it was even more reason to be vigilant.

Lei Yu Ce stood at the base of the tower, his eyes scanning the surroundings before confirming that it was safe. He then raised his hand and pressed it against the stone door.

Before he could even use his energy to push the door open, the stone door emitted a low rumbling sound and automatically swung open, revealing a dark entrance. The light inside was dim, but there were faint flashes of firelight.

Lei Yu Ce was slightly surprised, but he quickly regained his composure and didn't rush in. Instead, he stood at the entrance and examined it carefully.

The others followed his lead, holding their breath as they gazed into the entrance. They also tried to send out their divine sense to investigate, but to no avail.

The tower's interior had a formless restrictive energy that could block all divine sense.

"This place is indeed a bit strange," Wen Zhong said with a chuckle. "Everyone should be careful. If anyone doesn't want to go in, it's still not too late."

However, since they had come this far, no one was willing to give up. Everyone's eyes turned back to Lei Yu Ce.

"Let's go!"

Lei Yu Ce said, taking a step forward into the tower.

The others followed, led by the Tongtian Sword Sect and the Tian Shui Sect.

As they entered the tower, they saw that the walls were adorned with fire lanterns, burning a type of oil that emitted a faint, pungent smell. The air was dimly lit, but there was no sign of smoke.

The tower's interior was empty, except for a massive, ten-meter-tall statue of a double-headed figure standing in front of them.

The statue was strange, with a smiling face on one side and a ferocious, evil face on the other. Its body was adorned with intricate carvings and lock-like armor, and it had two golden wings on its back. One hand held a golden ruyi, and the other held a massive axe, each pointing towards a different direction.

Below the ruyi and axe, two dark passageways led deeper into the tower. The light from the lanterns couldn't illuminate the inside of the passageways, making it impossible to see what lay within.

"Look, there are words on the ruyi and axe!" someone exclaimed.

Han Li's eyes narrowed, and he saw that the ruyi and axe each had a line of vertical text. He murmured, "Choose the path without regret, different roads lead to the same destination."

Lei Yu Ce also spoke up, repeating the words. He turned to ask, "What does this mean? What's the choice we're supposed to make?"

"It seems that choosing different paths will lead to different encounters," Jing Liu said, pausing for a moment. "Perhaps one path is treacherous, and the other is... even more treacherous."

"Dividing into two groups is actually a good idea," Su Zhenzi said, her eyes fixed on the statue. "Our Tian Shui Sect and your Tongtian Sword Sect can each lead a group, taking a different path."

Lei Yu Ce's eyes flashed, and he said, "Su Xianzi, this is the core of the immortal palace, and there are bound to be dangers inside. I think it's better if we don't split up."

Jing Liu hesitated, then transmitted a message to Su Zhenzi. "I know you don't want to travel with him, but what he said is true. If the statue says 'different roads lead to the same destination', then doesn't it mean that both paths are the same?"

Su Zhenzi's expression turned cold, and she replied, "Jing Shixiong, when did you become so naive? Just because the statue says so doesn't mean it's true. Maybe the Taishu Xianzi set up a trap, creating a dead end for intruders."

Jing Liu was taken aback, and he transmitted a message back. "You're right, but how do we choose which path to take? Do you see any clues?"

Su Zhenzi replied, "Both passageways have restrictions, and our divine sense can't penetrate them. We can only find out what's inside after we enter."

Lei Yu Ce asked again, "Su Xianzi, what do you think we should do?"

Su Zhenzi's expression was cold, and she said, "We can't just focus on our own sects. If we travel together, what about the other cultivators? Should we let them explore one of the passageways on their own?"

Lei Yu Ce hesitated, unsure of what to do. Jin Liang smiled and said, "Lai Dao's good intentions, I'll take it for my junior sister. However, what my junior sister said is also reasonable. Since we've been made the leaders of the same path, we should take on the responsibility of leading."

Lei Yu Ce listened and said, "In that case, please let Su Xianzi choose a path first."

Tian Guan was on the left, and evil spirits were on the right... I'll choose the right path." Su Zhen Cai didn't hesitate and said.

"Good! Then our Tong Tian Sword Sect will take the left path. Ling Xiao Men, Qing Su Gu, Lie Guang Cheng, Mo Xiang Lou, and Wang You Ge's fellow practitioners, follow Su Xianzi to explore, and the rest will follow me." Lei Yu Ce said loudly.

The people behind him were also pondering the meaning of the statue, and they were hesitant about which path to take. However, since the leader of the alliance had spoken, and there were two major sects leading the way, no one had any objections.

Before long, the hundreds of people split into two groups and headed towards the two different paths indicated by the statue.

As they parted ways, Lei Yu Ce reminded Su Zhen Cai to be careful, but the latter didn't respond and led her group away.

Among the people from Wang You Ge, Lanyi and her brother were hidden in the crowd, their faces calm, but they were secretly transmitting sound.

"Little sister, this Lei Yu Ce is quite majestic, his boundary is comparable to Su Zhen Cai's, why is he always so cold and distant?" Lanyi asked in a transmission.

"What's strange about that? Whether it's a mortal or an immortal, as long as it's a man, isn't it all the same? The more unattainable, the more willing to pay with their heart, the colder Su Xianzi is, the more Lei Yu Ce will be willing to seek and be devoted." Lanyi smiled and replied.

"There's such a principle... it's like a clever move to entice and then let go." Lanyi's brother seemed to understand and nodded.

"How is that? Brother, you seem to have a taste for this." Lanyi's tone changed, and she asked.

"Ah... let's focus on the task at hand. What's to come is uncertain, so stick close to me." Lanyi's brother changed the subject.

At the end of the group, Han Li passed by the giant axe and looked up to see the words "Fallen Axe, Severing Long Life" written on the axe handle. He couldn't help but furrow his brow.

Almost at the same time, a young girl in black robes on the other path also looked up and saw the words "Like or Dislike" written on the Ruyi.

Both groups had entered the passageway for hundreds of meters when a loud "boom" sound suddenly came from behind.

It was the giant axe and Ruyi in the hands of the two-headed statue, which had fallen down and blocked the two paths, cutting off their return route.

The two groups heard the sound and stopped, and Wen Zhong and Jin Liang returned to investigate before returning to the group, saying that the retreat route was blocked and they had to press on.

The crowd was initially noisy, but since they had come to explore the treasure, they soon quieted down and continued on their way.

Han Li, who was at the back of the group, listened to the sound and a thoughtful expression flashed across his face.

As they continued on their way, the group led by Tian Shui Zong walked along the passageway for over ten miles, and the stone walls on either side were filled with intricate carvings of various symbols. However, they were too chaotic and disorganized, and Han Li couldn't make sense of them.

As they walked further in, the passageway began to narrow, from several hundred meters wide to several dozen meters wide.

Initially, the crowd was cautious, expecting sudden changes or mechanisms, but as they walked, the passageway seemed to be getting narrower, and there were no other changes, not even a single mechanism.

However, the more they walked, the more uneasy they felt, and the atmosphere became tense.

As they reached the end of the passageway, a gigantic golden gate appeared before them, with two statues of gods holding spears on either side, their faces stern and imposing.

The crowd's attention was drawn to the statues, but only a few people noticed the door nails on the gate.

"Yin and Yang, ten returns nine exits... it seems to be a Yin-Yang lock array." Jin Liang, who was at the front, pointed to the gate and said.

Han Li listened and couldn't help but sneer.

The door nails on the gate did have a Yin-Yang pattern, with some protruding outward and others inward, forming a complex pattern. However, it wasn't referring to Yin-Yang, but rather the stars.

The protruding nails represented the Taiyang Palace, and the inward-facing nails represented the Taiyin Palace. Therefore, the true name of this mechanism was the Star Palace Confrontation Array, and the Yin-Yang lock array was just a superficial name.

"Brother, since you recognize it, can you unlock it?" Su Zhen Cai asked.

"I can try." Jin Liang nodded after a moment of thought.

He turned to the crowd and said loudly, "Everyone, please be quiet, I have something to announce."

The passageway fell silent, and all eyes were on him.

Jin Dao, I don't know what you want to announce?" Yu Kuohai raised an eyebrow and asked.

"Everyone, if you want to enter the treasure tower and search for treasure, you must break open the stone door in front of you. To open the seal here, if I do it alone, it will take at least two days of effort. But if you all help me, we can break it in an instant." Jin Liu's eyes scanned the crowd, and he began to speak.

The crowd heard this and nodded in unison, glancing at each other, clearly remembering the scene when they collectively broke the formation earlier. They were afraid that they would become the sacrificial offerings to open the door.

Seeing that no one responded, Jin Liu's expression sank slightly, and he said slowly, "If you all want to reap the benefits without putting in any effort, I'm afraid there's no such good thing in this world?"

"Jin Dao, it's not that we're afraid of death, but please explain in detail how to break the formation, so that everyone can prepare mentally. Even if something happens, we can handle it ourselves." Yang Lao stepped forward and said.

"This formation is called the Yin-Yang Locking Formation. As long as you all use your spiritual energy on the door at the same time, making the originally balanced door hinges change, you can open the seal and enter." Jin Liu thought for a moment before explaining.

"Jin Dao, you make it sound easy, but isn't there any counter-seal or taboo on this door? What if we just make a move, and the formation counterattacks, resulting in a tragic outcome?" Yu Kuohai hesitated for a moment before speaking.

"I've checked, and this formation is different from the previous one. There's no unexpected situation. If you're still not at ease, I can break the formation with you all at the same time. If there's a change, I'll also suffer the counterattack." Jin Liu forced a smile onto his face.

"My brother has already explained everything, who is willing to take the initiative to break the formation?" Su Xi saw that no one responded, and she frowned.

The passageway was still silent, and Yu Kuohai and the others were all pretending to be deaf and dumb.

Jin Liu's smile slowly faded, and he said, "Since that's the case, I'll trouble you, Yu Dao, Yang Lao, Fu Gu Zhu, Zhao Fu Ge, and Qin Lou Zhu, to take the lead and have your respective sects send out some people to help me break the formation."

"Jin Dao..."

Yu Kuohai's words were cut off by Jin Liu's stern voice, "Since you've all joined the alliance, it's best to follow orders. Otherwise, once we leave this secret realm, the consequences will not be limited to just yourselves."

Yu Kuohai and the others understood the implication, that they would be seeking trouble for their entire sect in the future. Each of them had a slight change in expression.

"Qing Suo Valley is willing to follow orders." Fu Gu Zhu bowed his fist and said.

After that, he pointed and chose people from his sect.

The others looked at each other and also chose people.

"Also, each sect must choose someone who understands the art of breaking formations to listen to my instructions." Jin Liu's expression relaxed slightly as he reminded them.

Yu Kuohai heard this and his eyes shifted to Han Li.

"Shi Dao, my Ling Xian Men lacks people who understand formations, so I'll trouble you to take the lead for my Ling Xian Men." Yu Kuohai's face had a warm smile.

Yang Lao and Fu Gu Zhu exchanged a glance, and they both regretted not speaking earlier, allowing Yu Kuohai to take advantage of the situation and use "Shi Mu" as a scapegoat.

"This... isn't good, is it?" Han Li cursed inwardly, but his face showed a hesitant expression.

"Shi Dao, don't worry, after this is over, you can enter our Ling Xian Men and become an inner sect elder. You'll no longer be a wandering cultivator without a sect." Yu Kuohai patted Han Li's shoulder.

"Yu Dao, is this true?" Han Li pretended to be surprised.

"My words are not false, and there are all of you present as witnesses. Is there any reason for me to deceive you?" Yu Kuohai smiled.

"Then I'll take care of it this time." Han Li nodded.

A dozen steps away, the people from the Wang You Lou were watching. Blue Yan, who had transformed into a ordinary appearance, was looking at them.

"Brother, look at that poor guy, he's being lured by a small benefit and is willing to take the risk. It's really pitiful." Blue Yan's eyes flashed with a hint of mockery and pity as she transmitted her voice to Blue Yuanzi.

"A wandering cultivator's life is difficult, you don't understand. Becoming a Ling Xian Men elder is not a small benefit to him." Blue Yuanzi glanced at them and responded casually.

Blue Yan wanted to say something, but she heard the Wang You Lou's Zhao Fu Ge say, "You two, also participate in breaking the formation."

After a moment, each sect had chosen their people, and Jin Liu selected those who understood the art of breaking formations to explain the key points to them.

Han Li listened and sighed inwardly. If he followed Jin Liu's method, he would be walking into a trap, and it was likely to trigger the formation's counterattack.

However, with his current identity, he couldn't say anything.

When he returned to the Ling Xian Men group, Han Li reminded the people who were chosen to participate in breaking the formation, and the content was similar to what Jin Liu said. However, the details were slightly different, and ordinary people wouldn't notice. About half a quarter of an hour later, the dozens of people who had been chosen to participate in breaking the array were already lined up on either side of the stone gate.

"Gentlemen, when breaking the array, you must use all your strength to urge on your spiritual energy, don't be lazy, or else if there's a mistake, don't blame me, Jin Liang, for punishing you." Jin Liang's face turned serious, and he spoke loudly.

"Yes." The crowd quickly responded.

"Alright, let's begin as I said before." Jin Liang ordered, and he took the lead in using his hand seals to send a water-blue light towards the stone gate.

The others followed closely behind, also using their hand seals to mobilize their spiritual energy and strike the stone gate.

Only to see the various colored lights, like a rainbow, gathering on the gate's different areas, the sunken gate nails began to shine, rising upwards, while the originally raised gate nails began to sink downwards.

The entire stone gate, with the gathered lights, gradually split into a yin-yang fish pattern that was constantly changing.

As the fish turned, the stone gate seemed to start loosening, with a fierce vibration, emitting a hissing sound.

"Gentlemen, add a bit more strength, the gate is about to open!" Jin Liang exclaimed with joy, shouting loudly.

The others, hearing his words, also became spirited, using all their strength to urge on their spiritual energy.

Han Li had been paying attention to the changes in the gate's restrictions, knowing that the current situation was just a precursor to the activation of the gate's restrictions. If they didn't do anything, within a few breaths, the crowd would be hit with a backlash.

As for the lives and deaths of these people, who were unrelated to him, he didn't have any particular concern.

The secret realm's treasure hunt was a situation where one's life was their own responsibility, and he had seen too many examples of this on his journey. No matter who it was, they had to be responsible for their own choices, and while seeking opportunities and good fortune, they also had to bear the risk of death.

However, the lives and deaths of these people were now connected to his own, and on another path, there was another team advancing. If they were blocked, and the other team got the treasure first, it wouldn't be a good situation.

As the yin-yang fish pattern spun faster and faster, the people participating in breaking the array suddenly had a change of heart. A few of them didn't follow Jin Liang's instructions, instead, they poured their spiritual energy into a few gate nails that he hadn't mentioned.

This caused the originally spinning fish pattern to suddenly jam, and it directly dispersed.

Jin Liang saw this, and his face turned red with anger. Just as he was about to scold them, his eyes suddenly flashed.

Only to see that the dispersed fish pattern, under the colorful light, had actually revealed a starry night sky.

His expression changed slightly, and he immediately understood that he had misjudged the array. He opened his mouth, shouting loudly: "The array has changed, listen to my commands, re-break the array..."

After that, he began to give step-by-step instructions, ordering the crowd to pour their spiritual energy into the gate nails once again.

"You're not stupid, otherwise, I wouldn't have to personally take action..." Han Li nodded to himself, thinking.

As the new instructions were given, the stone gate was filled with starlight, and the two statues of the divine soldiers holding the halberds suddenly changed, their halberds rising high, and the stone gate slowly opened.

"Rumble..."

A heavy friction sound slowly echoed, and the two thick stone gates gradually opened, revealing a golden light that shone from within, accompanied by a strange fluctuation.

The crowd's eyes were all drawn to the scene inside the gate, but they could only see a dazzling golden light, and even when using their spiritual eyes, they couldn't see what was inside.

"Is this golden light the treasure's aura...?" Yu Kuohai muttered.

As soon as he spoke, the crowd felt a surge of excitement, and their eyes all showed a hint of greed.

"It's not the treasure's aura, but rather the fluctuation of the Golden Force Field." Su Xi coldly laughed, speaking up.

"Su Xi, the Golden Force Field in the Golden Source Mountain Range is not uncommon, and its aura is something we can distinguish. The golden light inside the gate is so strong, it's clearly a treasure with a golden attribute." Yang Lao's eyebrows rose, saying.

Su Xi didn't explain, only smiling lightly.

Yang Lao saw this and felt a bit puzzled, wondering if he was really wrong.

Han Li's eyes scanned the inside of the gate, and he immediately understood.

The Golden Force Fields in the Golden Source Mountain Range were mostly naturally formed, without the addition of magical arrays, and the golden spiritual energy they emitted was strong, but not pure enough.

The golden light inside the gate, which seemed to be the treasure's aura, was actually because the golden energy within was concentrated and pure enough, which was why it was able to confuse the crowd.

The crowd stood at the gate, their hearts burning with desire to seize the treasure, but they didn't dare to directly charge in, partly because they feared the Tian Shui Sect's control, and partly because they were afraid of more mechanisms and restrictions inside.

Everyone, regardless of whether there is a Golden Power Field inside, we should be cautious. So why don't we split into two teams and enter the great hall one after another?

Jin Liu hesitated for a moment before speaking.

"But how do we determine the order of entry?" Yu Kuohai raised an eyebrow and asked.

"Those who cultivate Golden Attribute techniques and those who are skilled in sealing arrays will form the vanguard team, entering the hall first. If there is indeed a sealing array within, those skilled in breaking seals will remove the restriction, and the second team will follow," Jin Liu said.

"Jin Liu, this method may be good, but it's unfair. Our Sect Master has cultivated Golden Attribute techniques, so wouldn't we be making them go first to test the waters?" Zhao Vice-Sect Master stepped forward and said.

"Zhao, don't worry, the vanguard team will receive any benefits, regardless of whether there is a sealing array inside. As for the second team, we will provide support from outside and aid you if anything goes wrong," Jin Liu replied.

"If that's the case, then it's reasonable," Zhao Vice-Sect Master thought for a moment before saying.

"This time, the vanguard team will be composed of those who cultivate Golden Attribute techniques from Lietu City, our Sect, and Tian Shui Sect. As for Ling Xiao Gate, Mo Xiang Lou, and Qing Su Valley, you can choose a few skilled in breaking seals to join us," Jin Liu said after a moment of consideration.

Everyone nodded in agreement, finding the plan reasonable.

Han Li watched as Yu Kuohai walked towards him, knowing he would be asked to join the vanguard team. Han Li didn't refuse, but he was surprised when Yu Kuohai also decided to join.

After each faction selected their representatives, a team of less than a hundred people was formed.

"I originally thought we should choose a leader for the vanguard team, but I didn't expect Yu, Yang, and Zhao to volunteer. It's a pleasant surprise," Jin Liu said with a smile.

"Hmph, how could I, as the leader of this expedition, wait outside while my Sect members enter?" Zhao Vice-Sect Master said with a sense of righteousness.

The people from his Sect looked at him with admiration in their eyes.

"I, too, will enter the hall with my Sect members. We will advance and retreat together," Yang Long said, stepping forward.

"We, Ling Xiao Gate, don't primarily cultivate Golden Attribute techniques, but I, Yu Kuohai, will join the vanguard team with Shi," Yu Kuohai added.

Han Li listened to their words, smiling inwardly.

In the end, these people were all trying to enter the hall first to gain an advantage in obtaining the treasure. As for whether it was a Golden Power Field inside, they either thought they could handle it or were being reckless.

Han Li didn't care about this, but what caught his attention was the "Lan siblings" who were also part of the vanguard team.

Earlier, when they broke the array, they didn't reveal anything. Han Li wondered what would happen once they entered the hall.

Lan Yuanshi was talking to Lan Yan when he suddenly sensed someone's gaze on him. He frowned and turned around, but the gaze had already moved away.

"What's wrong, brother?" Lan Yan asked, puzzled.

"Nothing, it was just my imagination," Lan Yuanshi replied with a smile.

"What if there's treasure inside?" Lan Yan asked, switching to a transmission.

"If there is, I'll take it and give it to you," Lan Yuanshi replied.

"I'll take care of those annoying people, and you can take care of obtaining the treasure. I'll kill them all," Lan Yan said, her face still smiling.

"They're not worth killing yet. We can use them as cannon fodder," Lan Yuanshi transmitted.

Lan Yan's face scrunched up in distaste, and she replied, "But I don't want to keep pretending to be this ugly girl. I want to kill them all."

"Even if you kill them, you'll still have to maintain your disguise. Who else would you show your true self to?" Lan Yuanshi asked.

"Only you, brother. You're the only one worthy of seeing me," Lan Yan replied, smiling.

"Besides, in my eyes, you're the most beautiful woman in the world. Whether you're in disguise or not, it doesn't matter," Lan Yuanshi said, his eyes warm with affection.

Lan Yan's face turned red, and she looked at him with admiration.

After a brief adjustment, the two teams approached the entrance to the hall, where golden light was emanating from within. The group of cultivators walked forward, their movements swift and silent. Jing Liu nodded and said, "Don't worry, we've got your backs. We won't let anything happen to you."

Su Zhenzi's eyes were cold and expressionless, her face a mask of calmness. She seemed to be thinking deeply, but her thoughts were impossible to discern.

Yu Kuohai exchanged a glance with Yang Lao, and they both nodded in unison. With a wave of his hand, he led the group, including Han Li, towards the entrance.

The group from Wangyou Pavilion followed closely behind, entering the doorway in a swift and orderly manner.

As soon as they crossed the threshold, they were enveloped by a blinding golden light. Their figures disappeared from view, and even their auras became difficult to detect.

Han Li walked behind Yu Kuohai, and as soon as he stepped into the new space, he felt a sudden constriction around him. A powerful binding force emanated from all directions, restricting his movements.

This binding force was different from the heavy pressure of the earth element or the sticky sensation of the water element. It was as if he was being wrapped in a multitude of thin, yet incredibly resilient metal threads.

Accompanying this force was a series of sharp, bone-cutting golden winds that blew towards him, making his skin prickle with pain.

The golden light that permeated the air made it difficult for anyone to see clearly, and even the cultivators' vision was affected. The view became hazy and indistinct, as if shrouded in a layer of golden mist.

"What's going on? This feeling... Could it be..." Zhao Fuyuan's voice trembled as he exclaimed.

Yang Lao's face turned pale, and he let out a bitter laugh. "It seems that Su Xianzi was right. This is indeed a Golden Force Field."

With a flick of his wrist, he produced a golden orb and placed it on his chest. A golden arc of light burst forth, protecting him from the Golden Force Field's influence.

Even with his cultivation level, Yang Lao still needed to rely on a treasure to withstand the effects of the Golden Force Field. The others were not as fortunate, and their faces contorted in pain as they struggled to resist the force.

Yu Kuohai formed a hand seal, and a series of golden patterns emerged on his body, shielding him from the Golden Force Field's influence. However, his internal spiritual energy was being depleted at an alarming rate.

"This Golden Force Field is incredibly powerful. I've never seen anything like it before. It must be reinforced by a powerful formation. Quickly, go and find the formation's eye and foot, and destroy it!" Yu Kuohai's expression turned grave as he pointed at Han Li and the others.

Han Li, although affected by the Golden Force Field, did not feel as much pain as the others. His physical body was far more resilient, and he only pretended to be in discomfort to maintain his cover.

"We can't even take a step forward in this Golden Force Field... Brother Yu, it's not that I'm unwilling to help, but..." Han Li's words were cut off by Yu Kuohai's brusque interruption.

"Enough! Hurry up and go! If we don't destroy this formation, we'll never be able to obtain the treasure. We'll all be trapped here and eventually die!" Yu Kuohai's anger was palpable.

Han Li let out a forced sigh and pretended to be reluctant. "Fine... I'll go and take a look."

As he walked forward, he discovered that his spiritual sense was severely limited, unable to perceive the surroundings beyond a hundred paces. Even his Nine Underworlds Devil Eyes were restricted, unable to see the full extent of the space.

He proceeded forward, his footsteps echoing in the silence, until he came across a massive golden stone pillar. The pillar was adorned with intricate symbols that flashed with golden light, emitting a strange, pulsating energy.

"Could this be one of the Golden Force Field's formation feet?" Han Li muttered to himself.

He reached out and touched the pillar, feeling a surge of sharp energy flow into his fingertips.

As he looked up, he saw that the pillar was embedded in the golden light, making it impossible to discern its full extent. However, he could see that the top of the pillar seemed to be adorned with a pair of wings, belonging to a strange, two-winged beast. The wings' sharp tips protruded from the golden light, gleaming with an otherworldly aura.

Just as Han Li was about to examine the symbols on the pillar more closely, a sudden, piercing cry echoed above him. The two-winged beast, which had seemed like a mere carving, suddenly came to life and swooped down towards him.

Han Li dodged to the side, narrowly avoiding the beast's attack. The beast's wings sliced through the air, leaving a trail of glittering golden light in its wake. The air itself seemed to be torn apart, revealing a glimpse of the void beyond.

As Han Li retreated, he caught a glimpse of the beast's true form – a magnificent, golden bird with wings as sharp as knives. Its body seemed to be made of a metallic material, and its aura was even more powerful than the two metal beasts Han Li had encountered earlier.

The golden bird's wings beat the air once, and it launched itself at Han Li, its talons extended. A blast of golden energy shot towards him, threatening to tear him apart.

Han Li's hand flashed, and a golden sword appeared in his grasp. The sword, adorned with golden threads, blocked the bird's attack, but the force of the blow sent it trembling.

The golden bird's wings beat the air once more, and it launched itself at Han Li, its beak snapping wildly.

Han Li's hand grasped the sword hilt, and with a swift motion, he sheathed the sword by his side. At the same time, his other hand formed a sword seal, and with a fierce swing, he unleashed a powerful strike.

"Zhilak..." A burst of electricity flashed, and a series of golden lightning bolts shot out from the sword, coalescing into a golden electric blade that sliced through the air.

The golden light in the void was like a knife cutting through tofu, splitting apart with ease, and the two sides of the golden light churned and surged, dispersing in all directions, revealing a clear and empty space in the middle.

The golden bird seemed to be wary of the golden electric blade's ferocity, and with a swift flap of its wings, it shot upwards, fleeing towards the upper reaches.

Han Li followed the sword light's trajectory, his eyes fixed on the opening, and his expression changed slightly.

In the distance, he saw over a hundred golden stone pillars, each one adorned with intricate symbols, and on top of each pillar, a metal beast with a different shape and form lay motionless.

As the golden light passed by, the metal beasts' eyes snapped open, and they jumped down from the pillars, their bodies low to the ground, like predators stalking their prey, and began to move towards Han Li.

The sword light from the Qing Zhu Xi Yun Sword gradually dissipated, and the golden light in the surroundings began to spread, covering Han Li's figure.

"What's going on?" Yu Kuohai and the others noticed something amiss and shouted loudly.

There was silence in the golden light, and no one responded.

Except for the few people who had been sent out to search for the array's core, the rest of the group felt a strange sensation, and they couldn't help but gather together.

"Is there something inside this golden light?" Yang Lao looked at the golden light and hesitated.

The others heard his words and felt even more uneasy, their faces tense with anxiety.

Just then, a sudden burst of footsteps echoed from the front, and the group quickly grasped their weapons, on high alert.

A figure suddenly emerged from the golden light, shouting, "Ah, it's me, don't attack!"

"Shi Dao friend..." Yu Kuohai quickly stopped the others and asked, "What's wrong?"

"Yu Dao friend, there are metal beasts here, many, many metal beasts..." Han Li's figure appeared, his expression tense.

"I thought it was something else, but it's just metal beasts..." Yu Kuohai's expression relaxed slightly, and he said.

As soon as he finished speaking, several broken and battered corpses flew in from different directions, landing at the group's feet.

Han Li looked closely and saw that they were the people who had been sent out to search for the array's core.

Before the group could react, more bursts of footsteps echoed from the surroundings.

"They're coming..." Han Li whispered.

As he spoke, his eyes fell on the Lan siblings.

The two of them seemed to have already discovered the anomaly, and not only did they not gather with the others, but they also kept a distance, standing back-to-back, their faces expressionless.

"This is a good opportunity to test your skills..." Han Li's eyes flashed with a hint of a smile.

A fierce gust of wind swept in, and a series of golden wind blades swirled towards the group, forming a massive golden dragon that surrounded them.

The golden light in the surroundings dissipated, and the group's vision cleared slightly.

However, what they saw made their hearts tremble with fear – over a hundred massive golden figures had appeared, each one a different shape and form, including tigers, leopards, wolves, snakes, eagles, and mice.

Each of the metal beasts emitted an aura of immense power.

Yu Kuohai looked on, his face filled with regret, wishing he could take back his previous words.

In all his years of exploring the Golden Source Mountains, he had never seen such metal beasts, nor had he ever seen such a formation.

"Wangyou Pavilion disciples, quickly form an array!" Zhao Vice Pavilion Master shouted.

"Yes!"

The Wangyou Pavilion disciples quickly gathered around Zhao Vice Pavilion Master, their hands moving in unison as they conjured up golden wheels that hovered above their heads, forming a massive golden wheel array.

As they chanted and the golden wheels vibrated, the array began to take shape, with golden light circles spreading outwards, like a blooming flower.

"Let's form a joint array!" Yu Kuohai exclaimed.

The Ling Xiao Sect and Lie Guang City didn't have enough people to form a strong array, so they decided to join forces with the Wangyou Pavilion.

"We can't form a joint array," Zhao Vice Pavilion Master said, his eyes flashing with cunning. "Our cultivation methods are different, and our arrays won't be compatible. It's better for your sect to form its own array."

Yu Kuohai glared at him, then turned to Yang Lao, and the two sects began to set up their own arrays.

In reality, they were just setting up their own individual arrays, hoping to combine them to increase their strength.

"Shi Dao friend, what's wrong? Why are you still standing there? Come and join the array!" Yu Kuohai shouted, noticing Han Li still standing in the distance, looking at the Lan siblings.

Han Li's eyes seemed to be fixed on the Lan siblings, and his expression was unreadable. Han Li turned his head to glance at the two factions, seeing the two layers of light screens above their heads, one red and one blue. A hint of pity flashed in his eyes, and he lazily opened his mouth to say:

"I specially came back to warn you, meaning to let you prepare to escape. How can you not understand, with such a formation, what can you defend against?"

"You scoundrel, what nonsense are you talking about?" Yu Kuohai's eyes flashed with a hint of doubt, and he shouted in anger.

"Never mind, life and death are predestined, you all take care of yourselves." Han Li smiled indifferently, no longer looking at them.

As soon as his words fell, the metal beasts surrounding them began to attack. A golden giant wolf took the lead, lifting a front paw, its claws like golden knife blades slashing through the air, directly striking the golden wheel formation above the Wuyou Pavilion disciples' heads.

"Full power, activate the formation!" Zhao, the deputy pavilion master, roared.

All the Wuyou Pavilion cultivators followed with a loud shout, crazily activating their spiritual energy. The golden light above the golden wheel formation burst forth, its radiance surpassing even the golden force field itself.

As the wolf's claws touched the formation, a sharp, ear-piercing sound echoed out. The seemingly indestructible golden wheel formation was torn open, revealing three massive gashes, and golden blades shot out from the openings, followed by a cacophony of shattering sounds.

The formation, set up by the combined efforts of many golden immortals, was not weak, but under the metal beast's attack, it was like mud being squeezed, without any resistance.

The Wuyou Pavilion cultivators' golden wheels shattered, exploding into countless golden fragments. The space was filled with the sounds of screams and wailing, as the cultivators were killed or injured.

Yu Kuohai's expression finally turned to terror as he witnessed the scene.

The Wuyou Pavilion's formation was unable to withstand the attack, and their hastily assembled formation was of no use.

"Disperse and break through, find a chance to escape..." Yu Kuohai shouted.

The Ling Xiao Sect and Lie Guang City cultivators had already been on edge, and upon hearing his words, they immediately activated their strongest survival techniques, scattering in all directions.

The space was filled with a kaleidoscope of lights, but all were suppressed by the golden force field, their effects greatly diminished.

Their actions seemed to provoke the metal beasts, which simultaneously attacked, biting and tearing at the cultivators. The space descended into chaos, with wailing sounds echoing everywhere.

Yu Kuohai's robes glowed with a blue light, and his body was covered in a layer of golden scales, which shone with an extraordinary radiance. He seemed to be able to move freely, unaffected by the golden force field.

If not for the metal beasts surrounding him, he would have already escaped a dozen miles away.

Yang, the elder of Lie Guang City, had changed into a crimson robe, transforming into a giant crimson fire python, also moving freely through the crowd.

Wherever he passed, flames burned, scorching many of his fellow cultivators, but he didn't have time to care, only trying to avoid the metal beasts' attacks and find a way to escape.

Just then, a clear, ringing sound echoed from above, and a golden eagle swooped down, its talons swiping at the fire python's body.

Yang felt the terrifying golden energy emanating from the eagle and barely avoided its attack, only to collide with Han Li.

"Get out of my way..." Yang shouted, his anger burning brighter.

Han Li slightly furrowed his brow, turned his head, and slapped Yang with a palm.

Yang's anger intensified, and he spat out a stream of intense flames, engulfing Han Li.

"You're looking for death..." Yang sneered.

But then, he saw a thick hand emerge from the flames, drawing a circular arc in the air, before slapping Yang's head with a loud "pap".

Yang felt a massive force crash down on him, and his consciousness began to blur. When he regained his senses, he found himself trapped in the eagle's talons.

"No..."

His voice was cut off as the eagle tore his body into three pieces, which were then swallowed by three metal beasts.

Han Li turned his head, no longer paying attention to Yang, and this scene was witnessed by the fleeing Yu Kuohai. His heart felt as if it had been struck by lightning, and his mind went blank.

When he regained his senses, a bitter taste filled his mouth, and he cursed Han Li for being a heartless actor, while praying that he wouldn't settle the score with him later.

Han Li didn't even notice them, and if Yang hadn't provoked him, he wouldn't have bothered with him.

At this moment, Han Li's gaze fell upon the "Lan siblings" in the distance.

Lan Yan's hand grasped a weapon resembling a long-handled curved sickle, its blade tip embedded with three blocks of water-blue crystals that flashed with clear light.

The man standing behind her, Lan Yuanzi, held a slender long sword with three blocks of water-blue crystals, its movements creating layer upon layer of water-blue light waves.

Together, they calmly faced the two metal beasts resembling ferocious lions.

"These metal beasts are of a high grade, and their cores must contain the power of the golden law. Let's kill a few more, shall we?" Lan Yan's body flowed with water-like movements as she smiled.

"Compared to the treasure in the Years Tower, these metal beasts are nothing to worry about. We should focus on finding a way out, wasting time here is meaningless." Lan Yuanzi shook his head, saying.

"This is also good, there are so many metal beasts, killing them would be a bother. Let's go deeper and take a look." Lan Yan's excitement grew.

"You shouldn't be too careless, these things have strong attacks, if you're not careful, you'll get hurt." Lan Yuanzi's voice was more serious, warning.

As they spoke, the two metal beasts charged again.

Lan Yan's foot lightly touched the ground, and she floated up, jumping into the air.

She raised one hand, and a point of empty space appeared, with a sheet of blue light rippling out from her fingertips, condensing into a water-blue light screen.

The light screen displayed a series of ring-shaped symbols, emitting a strong water-attribute aura.

The metal beast that charged towards her crashed into the light screen, causing a massive shockwave.

The water-blue light screen was like a stormy rain, with countless blue water droplets swirling on its surface, but it remained solid and unbroken, firmly resisting the metal beast's attack.

Almost simultaneously, Lan Yan's other hand grasped a blue curved sickle, which drew a blue light arc in the air, resembling a blue crescent moon.

With a sharp cry, Lan Yan's water-blue light screen split open, and the metal beast behind it was sliced in two by the blue crescent moon.

On the other side, Lan Yuanzi was more direct, without any defensive movements, and instead charged forward, his water-blue slender sword slicing through the air, creating a spiral water light that shot towards the metal beast's forehead.

A soft "puff" sound was heard.

The metal beast's head, which should have been incredibly hard, was pierced by the water light, creating a massive hole.

Yu Kuo Hai, who was fleeing in panic, saw this scene and was shocked.

It turned out that there were more people like "Stone Daoist" who were pretending to be weak. From now on, he wouldn't dare to underestimate those who seemed unremarkable.

At this moment, he noticed that "Stone Daoist" glanced at him, and his heart skipped a beat. Fortunately, he only looked at him briefly and didn't take any action.

Despite this, Yu Kuo Hai's heart was still racing, and he subconsciously distanced himself from the three, fleeing towards the other side, afraid of being killed by them.

Han Li, however, was too busy to deal with Yu Kuo Hai, and his gaze had turned towards the other side because his divine sense had detected something. It seemed that there was an even stronger metal beast approaching.

He turned his gaze back to the Lan siblings, his brow furrowed in concern, but their figures had already disappeared.

Han Li was puzzled, and just as he was about to investigate, a loud cry echoed from above.

The golden eagle that had attacked him earlier had returned, and it was now targeting him again.

"Shut up!" Han Li's brow furrowed, and he raised a fist, striking upwards.

The golden eagle was about to land when it was hit by Han Li's fist, causing a burst of golden light.

A loud explosion was heard, and the golden eagle's steel claws were shattered by the incoming starlight.

Its broken body flew to the side, where it was swallowed by a metal beast resembling a qilin.

The qilin let out a deafening roar, its back glowing with golden light, and two golden wings sprouted from its back.

Han Li saw the qilin's appearance and sensed that it was the source of the powerful aura he had detected earlier.

The qilin metal beast charged towards Han Li, its four legs pounding the ground.

Its massive mouth opened, and a stream of golden liquid shot out, pouring down towards Han Li.

Han Li's wrist turned, and the Qingtong Huo Yun sword appeared, which he grasped firmly, swinging it with a powerful motion.

The Qingtong Huo Yun sword's golden light and blue sword energy merged, creating a blue light screen that surged upwards, clashing with the golden liquid.

The two forces collided, and the golden liquid was cut into thin strands by the golden light, which then split into fine threads.

However, the golden liquid had also weakened the golden light, and it was subsequently torn apart by the blue sword energy. Han Li flew up from the opening torn open by the sword energy, and charged straight at the Qilin metal beast.

The Qilin saw this and flapped its newly grown wings, creating a whirlwind of golden wind that blew out from beneath its wings, like a series of golden blades that sliced through the air, cutting through the void and causing it to shatter.

Han Li's path was blocked by the golden wind, and his footstep echoed with a loud "thud".

He stepped on the void, his body rising step by step, crossing over the golden wind area and arriving at the Qilin's head. He suddenly raised his fist and struck downwards.

"Boom boom boom..."

The void shook violently, and a powerful pressure emanated from Han Li's fist, suppressing the golden light that filled the surrounding void. His fist struck the Qilin's head with a loud "boom".

The Qilin's massive body collapsed, its four legs splayed out, and it fell to the ground.

Although its massive head had not split open, it swayed back and forth, as if it was struggling to maintain its balance.

Han Li landed on the Qilin's head, his face filled with hesitation.

After a moment, he raised his fingers to his brow and pressed down, then pulled outwards.

A thin, white crystal thread emerged from his fingers, like a floating spirit snake that danced at his fingertips.

"Go!"

Han Li pointed his fingers, and the crystal thread shot out, striking the Qilin's head and disappearing into it.

The crystal thread vanished, and the Qilin's head, which had been swaying, suddenly drooped downwards, as if it had fallen asleep.

Han Li's right hand flashed with light, and a massive silver light gate appeared in front of the Qilin.

"Enter, and from now on, take care of the household and protect the courtyard." Han Li said, his body flashing backwards as he kicked the Qilin's buttocks, sending it tumbling into the light gate.

He then closed the flower branch cave, his gaze turning towards a direction in the distance.

A blue-green light curtain appeared, rippling out from the golden light. A pair of handsome young men, resembling a pair of divine lovers, walked out from the light.

Han Li looked closely, and it was indeed the Lan siblings.

"This is indeed a treasure of the cave, no wonder it could plunder such a large area of the secret realm. But to do something like scraping the ground, Han Li, your methods are really too unbecoming." Lan Yan said with a smile, covering her mouth.

"When did you discover my identity?" Han Li asked, his brow furrowed.

"We've been watching you, Han Li, and we wouldn't have noticed you if you hadn't been so careful." Lan Yuanzi said calmly.

" Lan siblings... you..." Han Li looked at the intimate appearance of the two, and felt a bit uncomfortable.

Lan Yan saw this, and her expression became slightly unnatural, her voice rising in anger.

"I and my brother are fellow disciples, we were both taken in by our master and followed his surname. Only someone as rude as you would think such impure thoughts."

Lan Yuanzi, however, remained calm and natural.

"What's between you two is none of my concern. I had hoped that you wouldn't cause any trouble, and we could avoid a fight. But now it seems... that's not possible?" Han Li's gaze turned, and he said.

"We don't want to fight, Han Li. If you surrender now, we can take you back to the Jiuyuan Observatory and let the old ancestor deal with you." Lan Yuanzi said with a light smile.

"How is it that people from the Jiuyuan Observatory like to joke around like this? The last person who spoke like this was Dongfang Bai, I don't know if you know him." Han Li smiled wryly, and asked.

Lan Yan heard this, and her face turned red with anger.

Her hand grasped the sickle, and she was about to strike Han Li, but was stopped by Lan Yuanzi.

"Don't be provoked, this person is not simple. He can kill a palace lord, kill Dongfang Bai, and must be dealt with carefully." Lan Yuanzi said.

Lan Yan's expression eased slightly, and she gazed at Han Li, her hand gripping the sickle tightly.

"Since Han Li wants to fight, let's see who's stronger." Lan Yuanzi's expression turned serious, and he drew his sword, making a light slash in front of him.

As he spoke, a blue-green light enveloped him, and a spherical light curtain expanded, covering an area of several hundred meters around him.

Han Li's brow furrowed, and he sensed that the golden energy in the surrounding void had become much weaker, and the metal beasts seemed to have been driven away by this spiritual domain.

As for the cultivators from the Wangyou Pavilion and the Lingxiao Sect, they had already been killed or injured, with very few remaining.

"This spiritual domain is quite special, but it doesn't seem to have any killing power, and yet it can drive away the metal beasts." Han Li said in surprise.

...

Here is the translated text:

"There's nothing strange about it, the five elements have a natural relationship of mutual generation and restraint. Metal can generate water, and in this metal force field, my water attribute spiritual domain is naturally stronger by three parts. Those metal beasts, if they stay in my spiritual domain, will be absorbed of their metal attribute force, and naturally will be unable to resist me," Lan Yuansu said calmly.

"I see, thank you for the lesson," Han Li nodded and said.

"In this metal force field, I have the advantage of the terrain, and I have an unbeatable position from the start. Han Dao friend, are you really not willing to surrender?" Lan Yuansu looked at Han Li's fearless expression and couldn't help but ask.

"If you were a Daluo realm cultivator, relying on this terrain advantage, you might have the qualifications to speak like that," Han Li sneered and said.

As soon as he finished speaking, he took a step forward, and without using his spiritual energy, he charged forward with his physical strength.

Han Li didn't move, but as soon as he did, he felt like he was facing a vast ocean, with waves crashing against him, pushing him back and preventing him from advancing.

He coldly snorted, and quietly activated the Tianxia Zhenyu technique, his body's xuanqiao lit up one after another, and his star power surged out, suddenly breaking through the water attribute law's obstruction, and the distance between him and the Lan siblings narrowed instantly.

"His physical body is incredibly strong, this is not something a Taiyi cultivator should possess," Lan Yuansu's expression changed, and he exclaimed in surprise.

"What's the use of having a strong physical body, let's see how you handle my Water Yuan Slash," Lan Yan had been holding back her anger, and now she coldly snorted, her body glowing with a blue-green light as she charged towards Han Li.

Her body moved within Lan Yuansu's spiritual domain, and was completely unaffected, instantly flashing in front of Han Li.

She twisted her wrist, and the three crystal stones on her curved scythe lit up, a powerful water attribute law's force surged out, the scythe's blade suddenly grew larger, and in mid-air, it drew a circular arc, slashing towards Han Li.

"No, retreat quickly..." Lan Yuansu suddenly remembered something, and cried out in alarm.

But it was too late, Han Li's true word treasure wheel reversed, and the flow of time accelerated, his speed surpassing Lan Yan's by a large margin.

His body brushed past the edge of Lan Yan's scythe, and he reached out with his hand, aiming for her throat.

Lan Yan had no chance to resist, and was caught by Han Li's hand.

"Ha ha ha..." a series of clear and crisp laughter came from Lan Yan's throat.

Han Li immediately felt something was off, and when he tried to release his hand, it was too late.

His palm felt a cold and icy sensation, a blue-green light burst out from Lan Yan's body, instantly covering Han Li, and turning him into a crystal blue ice sculpture.

And the "Lan Yan" he was holding onto also turned into an ice sculpture.

On the other side, Lan Yuansu's body glowed with a light, and Lan Yan's figure reappeared.

"Brother, I knew he cultivated the time law, I wouldn't have been so reckless," Lan Yan smiled and said.

"I didn't expect you to hide it from me, and even made me worry," Lan Yuansu sighed and said.

"It's good that we caught him, brother, hurry up and seal him completely, my Extreme Cold Ice Crystal can only hold him for a short time," Lan Yan's smile disappeared, and she urged.

As soon as she finished speaking, a somewhat muffled voice came from outside: "A short time, Lan Dao friend, you're overestimating yourself."

Immediately after, a loud "bang" sound was heard.

Han Li's body erupted with countless golden electric lights, the blue ice crystal exploded, and his figure reappeared.

"How is this possible?" Lan Yan exclaimed in surprise.

Ordinary Taiyi cultivators, if sealed in this Extreme Cold Ice Crystal, would have their spiritual energy frozen, and would be unable to move, even if they were at the peak of the Taiyi realm, they could only struggle a bit, but Han Li was different.

She didn't know that Han Li had opened up over 900 xuanqiao, even if his spiritual energy was frozen, his physical strength and star power were enough to break through the seal.

Han Li coldly smiled, and without saying a word, he turned his wrist, and a layer of pale golden spiritual domain expanded, just enough to envelop Lan Yuansu's spiritual domain.

Lan Yan and Lan Yuansu felt the pressure of the time spiritual domain, and their expressions changed.

"This person is more troublesome than we imagined, don't have any illusions, only by using that technique can we have a chance to win," Lan Yuansu said gravely.

Lan Yan's eyes narrowed, and she nodded.

Then, she saw her hand collect the curved scythe, and she snapped her fingers.

A spiritual domain with a slightly lighter color, and a bit of white, expanded, and when it approached Lan Yuansu's spiritual domain, a strange attractive force appeared, and finally, with a flash of light, they merged.

After the two spiritual domains merged, a cold and strange feeling came from within.

Han Li, who was inside, felt like he was being pressed down by a huge weight, and couldn't breathe.

"Spiritual domain fusion..."

He swallowed his saliva, and his eyebrows furrowed in surprise. Only the blue-colored ice sculpture stood in front of Han Li, its facial features ambiguous, resembling both Lan Yuan and Lan Cai.

Han Li hesitated, and suddenly the wind howled, and a loud crashing sound erupted.

Outside his body, four beams of cold light rose from the ground, condensing into four blue-colored ice sculptures identical to the first one.

The five ice sculptures stood expressionless, their mouths open, emitting a low growl.

As they opened their mouths, the surrounding space temperature plummeted, and visible white cold air surged out, rushing towards Han Li from all directions.

The air was filled with cracking sounds, and crystal lights began to refract through the space.

Han Li's eyes flashed, and a layer of white frost instantly formed on his eyebrows.

His expression changed slightly, and he raised his hand, summoning eighteen Qingtong Huicong swords that floated in front of him. The swords' surfaces crackled with energy, emitting golden lightning that formed into golden lightning balls, which seemed to be on the verge of exploding.

However, a whirlwind swept past, and the white cold air rushed in, freezing Han Li and his Qingtong Huicong swords in place.

The golden lightning balls still crackled with energy, but they were also frozen in place.

Han Li's heart sank, and he was surprised to find that his spiritual sea seemed to be infiltrated by cold air, making his divine sense feel numb.

"Brother, we can only capture him with the power of the Ling domain fusion, but we can't maintain it for long. What should we do to bring him back to the Jiuyuan Pavilion?" one of the ice sculptures asked, its voice devoid of emotion.

"The sect didn't say we had to bring him back alive. Finding the Palms of Heaven is the priority. Since he's so difficult to deal with, let's just kill him and take his divine soul back," another ice sculpture replied, its voice equally cold and inhuman.

"Should we use the Xuanbing Zhanyuan sword?" another ice sculpture asked.

"Kill!" the remaining two ice sculptures chimed in unison.

The five ice sculptures began to form a formation, their hands weaving intricate patterns.

A blue light surged above Han Li's head, and a circular symbol appeared, emitting a powerful cold energy. A blue ice sword protruded from the symbol, its blade half-exposed.

The cold energy in the space increased exponentially, and a terrifying pressure descended from above.

"This is... a high-grade immortal artifact?" Han Li felt the power and his heart skipped a beat.

The sword hadn't fully emerged, and yet it already possessed such immense power. If it were to be fully unleashed, even a Da Luo cultivator might not be able to withstand it. No wonder it required Lan Yuan and Lan Cai to join forces and summon it with a formation.

Han Li's internal immortal energy was almost completely frozen, and even his starlight energy was unable to circulate. The Qingtong Huicong swords were also sealed, and he was unable to break free from the extreme cold.

The battle inside the stone door was intense, but the people outside could only hear the sounds of fighting and feel the occasional powerful shockwaves. They couldn't see the situation inside.

"When should we go in?" Su Cai asked via transmission.

"There's no need to rush. Let's wait and see. A battle of this scale is not something we can intervene in. We might get caught in the crossfire. It's better to wait until the fighting stops, and then we can go in," Jing Liu replied via transmission.

Just then, a powerful cold energy burst through the seal, shattering the golden energy barrier and spreading outside the stone door.

The several Wu You Pavilion cultivators who were too close were instantly frozen, turning into ice sculptures. They didn't even have time to react before they were killed.

"What's going on?" the crowd was shocked and retreated from the stone door.

Su Cai and Jing Liu exchanged a glance, their expressions also changing.

"Jing Dao friend, how come there's no news from the people who went in, even after so long? Could something have happened?" Fu Gu Zhu, the master of Qing Su Valley, asked, his expression changing.

"I don't know what's going on inside," Jing Liu replied, his brow furrowed.

As he spoke, another explosion rocked the stone door, and a wave of intense heat surged out, forcing the crowd to retreat dozens of feet.

"What's happening?"

At that moment, Han Li, still frozen in place, was surrounded by silver flames that seemed to be a fire dragon. The flames emitted a terrifying heat that seemed to be on the verge of explosion.

A sharp whistling sound pierced the air, and a silver flame bird with seven-colored flames on its head burst out of the flames, flying straight towards the Xuanbing Zhanyuan sword.

A massive explosion rocked the space, and the blue cold lights on the sword transformed into countless thin threads that merged with the flames, creating a massive snow-white mist that obscured the entire space.

"Is this... a high-grade immortal artifact?" Han Li felt the power and his heart skipped a beat.

The sword hadn't fully emerged, and yet it already possessed such immense power. If it were to be fully unleashed, even a Da Luo cultivator might not be able to withstand it. No wonder it required Lan Yuan and Lan Cai to join forces and summon it with a formation.

Han Li's internal immortal energy was almost completely frozen, and even his starlight energy was unable to circulate. The Qingtong Huicong swords were also sealed, and he was unable to break free from the extreme cold.

"This is... a high-grade immortal artifact?" Han Li felt the power and his heart skipped a beat.

The sword hadn't fully emerged, and yet it already possessed such immense power. If it were to be fully unleashed, even a Da Luo cultivator might not be able to withstand it. No wonder it required Lan Yuan and Lan Cai to join forces and summon it with a formation.

Han Li's internal immortal energy was almost completely frozen, and even his starlight energy was unable to circulate. The Qingtong Huicong swords were also sealed, and he was unable to break free from the extreme cold.

"This is... a high-grade immortal artifact?" Han Li felt the power and his heart skipped a beat.

The sword hadn't fully emerged, and yet it already possessed such immense power. If it were to be fully unleashed, even a Da Luo cultivator might not be able to withstand it. No wonder it required Lan Yuan and Lan Cai to join forces and summon it with a formation.

Han Li's internal immortal energy was almost completely frozen, and even his starlight energy was unable to circulate. The Qingtong Huicong swords were also sealed, and he was unable to break free from the extreme cold.

"This is... a high-grade immortal artifact?" Han Li felt the power and his heart skipped a beat.

The sword hadn't fully emerged, and yet it already possessed such immense power. If it were to be fully unleashed, even a Da Luo cultivator might not be able to withstand it. No wonder it required Lan Yuan and Lan Cai to join forces and summon it with a formation.

Han Li's internal immortal energy was almost completely frozen, and even his starlight energy was unable to circulate. The Qingtong Huicong swords were also sealed, and he was unable to break free from the extreme cold.

"This is... a high-grade immortal artifact?" Han Li felt the power and his heart skipped a beat.

The sword hadn't fully emerged, and yet it already possessed such immense power. If it were to be fully unleashed, even a Da Luo cultivator might not be able to withstand it. No wonder it required Lan Yuan and Lan Cai to join forces and summon it with a formation.

Han Li's internal immortal energy was almost completely frozen, and even his starlight energy was unable to circulate. The Qingtong Huicong swords were also sealed, and he was unable to break free from the extreme cold.

"This is... a high-grade immortal artifact?" Han Li felt the power and his heart skipped a beat.

The sword hadn't fully emerged, and yet it already possessed such immense power. If it were to be fully unleashed, even a Da Luo cultivator might not be able to withstand it. No wonder it required Lan Yuan and Lan Cai to join forces and summon it with a formation.

Han Li's internal immortal energy was almost completely frozen, and even his starlight energy was unable to circulate. The Qingtong Huicong swords were also sealed, and he was unable to break free from the extreme cold.

"This is... a high-grade immortal artifact?" Han Li felt the power and his heart skipped a beat.

The sword hadn't fully emerged, and yet it already possessed such immense power. If it were to be fully unleashed, even a Da Luo cultivator might not be able to withstand it. No wonder it required Lan Yuan and Lan Cai to join forces and summon it with a formation.

Han Li's internal immortal energy was almost completely frozen, and even his starlight energy was unable to circulate. The Qingtong Huicong swords were also sealed, and he was unable to break free from the extreme cold.

"This is... a high-grade immortal artifact?" Han Li felt the power and his heart skipped a beat.

The sword hadn't fully emerged, and yet it already possessed such immense power. If it were to be fully unleashed, even a Da Luo cultivator might not be able to withstand it. No wonder it required Lan Yuan and Lan Cai to join forces and summon it with a formation.

Han Li's internal immortal energy was almost completely frozen, and even his starlight energy was unable to circulate. The Qingtong Huicong swords were also sealed, and he was unable to break free from the extreme cold.

"This is... a high-grade immortal artifact?" Han Li felt the power and his heart skipped a beat.

The sword hadn't fully emerged, and yet it already possessed such immense power. If it were to be fully unleashed, even a Da Luo cultivator might not be able to withstand it. No wonder it required Lan Yuan and Lan Cai to join forces and summon it with a formation.

Han Li's internal immortal energy was almost completely frozen, and even his starlight energy was unable to circulate. The Qingtong Huicong swords were also sealed, and he was unable to break free from the extreme cold.

"This is... a high-grade immortal artifact?" Han Li felt the power and his heart skipped a beat.

The sword hadn't fully emerged, and yet it already possessed such immense power. If it were to be fully unleashed, even a Da Luo cultivator might not be able to withstand it. No wonder it required Lan Yuan and Lan Cai to join forces and summon it with a formation.

Han Li's internal immortal energy was almost completely frozen, and even his starlight energy was unable to circulate. The Qingtong Huicong swords were also sealed, and he was unable to break free from the extreme cold.

"This is... a high-grade immortal artifact?" Han Li felt the power and his heart skipped a beat.

The sword hadn't fully emerged, and yet it already possessed such immense power. If it were to be fully unleashed, even a Da Luo cultivator might not be able to withstand it. No wonder it required Lan Yuan and Lan Cai to join forces and summon it with a formation.

Han Li's internal immortal energy was almost completely frozen, and even his starlight energy was unable to circulate. The Qingtong Huicong swords were also sealed, and he was unable to break free from the extreme cold.

"This is... a high-grade immortal artifact?" Han Li felt the power and his heart skipped a beat.

The sword hadn't fully emerged, and yet it already possessed such immense power. If it were to be fully unleashed, even a Da Luo cultivator might not be able to withstand it. No wonder it required Lan Yuan and Lan Cai to join forces and summon it with a formation.

Han Li's internal immortal energy was almost completely frozen, and even his starlight energy was unable to circulate. The Qingtong Huicong swords were also sealed, and he was unable to break free from the extreme cold.

"This is... a high-grade immortal artifact?" Han Li felt the power and his heart skipped a beat.

The sword hadn't fully emerged, and yet it already possessed such immense power. If it were to be fully unleashed, even a Da Luo cultivator might not be able to withstand it. No wonder it required Lan Yuan and Lan Cai to join forces and summon it with a formation.

Han Li's internal immortal energy was almost completely frozen, and even his starlight energy was unable to circulate. The Qingtong Huicong swords were also sealed, and he was unable to break free from the extreme cold.

"This is... a high-grade immortal artifact?" Han Li felt the power and his heart skipped a beat.

The sword hadn't fully emerged, and yet it already possessed such immense power. If it were to be fully unleashed, even a Da Luo cultivator might not be able to withstand it. No wonder it required Lan Yuan and Lan Cai to join forces and summon it with a formation.

Han Li's internal immortal energy was almost completely frozen, and even his starlight energy was unable to circulate. The Qingtong Huicong swords were also sealed, and he was unable to break free from the extreme cold.

"This is... a high-grade immortal artifact?" Han Li felt the power and his heart skipped a beat.

The sword hadn't fully emerged, and yet it already possessed such immense power. If it were to be fully unleashed, even a Da Luo cultivator might not be able to withstand it. No wonder it required Lan Yuan and Lan Cai to join forces and summon it with a formation.

Han Li's internal immortal energy was almost completely frozen, and even his starlight energy was unable to circulate. The Qingtong Huicong swords were also sealed, and he was unable to break free from the extreme cold.

"This is... a high-grade immortal artifact?" Han Li felt the power and his heart skipped a beat.

The sword hadn't fully emerged, and yet it already possessed such immense power. If it were to be fully unleashed, even a Da Luo cultivator might not be able to withstand it. No wonder it required Lan Yuan and Lan Cai to join forces and summon it with a formation.

Han Li's internal immortal energy was almost completely frozen, and even his starlight energy was unable to circulate. The Qingtong Huicong swords were also sealed, and he was unable to break free from the extreme cold.

"This is... a high-grade immortal artifact?" Han Li felt the power and his heart skipped a beat.

The sword hadn't fully emerged, and yet it already possessed such immense power. If it were to be fully unleashed, even a Da Luo cultivator might not be able to withstand it. No wonder it required Lan Yuan and Lan Cai to join forces and summon it with a formation.

Han Li's internal immortal energy was almost completely frozen, and even his starlight energy was unable to circulate. The Qingtong Huicong swords were also sealed, and he was unable to break free from the extreme cold.

"This is... a high-grade immortal artifact?" Han Li felt the power and his heart skipped a beat.

The sword hadn't fully emerged, and yet it already possessed such immense power. If it were to be fully unleashed, even a Da Luo cultivator might not be able to withstand it. No wonder it required Lan Yuan and Lan Cai to join forces and summon it with a formation.

Han Li's internal immortal energy was almost completely frozen, and even his starlight energy was unable to circulate. The Qingtong Huicong swords were also sealed, and he was unable to break free from the extreme cold.

"This is... a high-grade immortal artifact?" Han Li felt the power and his heart skipped a beat.

The sword hadn't fully emerged, and yet it already possessed such immense power. If it were to be fully unleashed, even a Da Luo cultivator might not be able to withstand it. No wonder it required Lan Yuan and Lan Cai to join forces and summon it with a formation.

Han Li's internal immortal energy was almost completely frozen, and even his starlight energy was unable to circulate. The Qingtong Huicong swords were also sealed, and he was unable to break free from the extreme cold.

"This is... a high-grade immortal artifact?" Han Li felt the power and his heart skipped a beat.

The sword hadn't fully emerged, and yet it already possessed such immense power. If it were to be fully unleashed, even a Da Luo cultivator might not be able to withstand it. No wonder it required Lan Yuan and Lan Cai to join forces and summon it with a formation.

Han Li's internal immortal energy was almost completely frozen, and even his starlight energy was unable to circulate. The Qingtong Huicong swords were also sealed, and he was unable to break free from the extreme cold.

"This is... a high-grade immortal artifact?" Han Li felt the power and his heart skipped a beat.

The sword hadn't fully emerged, and yet it already possessed such immense power. If it were to be fully unleashed, even a Da Luo cultivator might not be able to withstand it. No wonder it required Lan Yuan and Lan Cai to join forces and summon it with a formation.

Han Li's internal immortal energy was almost completely frozen, and even his starlight energy was unable to circulate. The Qingtong Huicong swords were also sealed, and he was unable to break free from the extreme cold.

"This is... a high-grade immortal artifact?" Han Li felt the power and his heart skipped a beat.

The sword hadn't fully emerged, and yet it already possessed such immense power. If it were to be fully unleashed, even a Da Luo cultivator might not be able to withstand it. No wonder it required Lan Yuan and Lan Cai to join forces and summon it with a formation.

Han Li's internal immortal energy was almost completely frozen, and even his starlight energy was unable to circulate. The Qingtong Huicong swords were also sealed, and he was unable to break free from the extreme cold.

"This is... a high-grade immortal artifact?" Han Li felt the power and his heart skipped a beat.

The sword hadn't fully emerged, and yet it already possessed such immense power. If it were to be fully unleashed, even a Da Luo cultivator might not be able to withstand it. No wonder it required Lan Yuan and Lan Cai to join forces and summon it with a formation.

Han Li's internal immortal energy was almost completely frozen, and even his starlight energy was unable to circulate. The Qingtong Huicong swords were also sealed, and he was unable to break free from the extreme cold.

"This is... a high-grade immortal artifact?" Han Li felt the power and his heart skipped a beat.

The sword hadn't fully emerged, and yet it already possessed such immense power. If it were to be fully unleashed, even a Da Luo cultivator might not be able to withstand it. No wonder it required Lan Yuan and Lan Cai to join forces and summon it with a formation.

Han Li's internal immortal energy was almost completely frozen, and even his starlight energy was unable to circulate. The Qingtong Huicong swords were also sealed, and he was unable to break free from the extreme cold.

"This is... a high-grade immortal artifact?" Han Li felt the power and his heart skipped a beat.

The sword hadn't fully emerged, and yet it already possessed such immense power. If it were to be fully unleashed, even a Da Luo cultivator might not be able to withstand it. No wonder it required Lan Yuan and Lan Cai to join forces and summon it with a formation.

Han Li's internal immortal energy was almost completely frozen, and even his starlight energy was unable to circulate. The Qingtong Huicong swords were also sealed, and he was unable to break free from the extreme cold.

"This is... a high-grade immortal artifact?" Han Li felt the power and his heart skipped a beat.

The sword hadn't fully emerged, and yet it already possessed such immense power. If it were to be fully unleashed, even a Da Luo cultivator might not be able to withstand it. No wonder it required Lan Yuan and Lan Cai to join forces and summon it with a formation.

Han Li's internal immortal energy was almost completely frozen, and even his starlight energy was unable to circulate. The Qingtong Huicong swords were also sealed, and he was unable to break free from the extreme cold.

"This is... a high-grade immortal artifact?" Han Li felt the power and his heart skipped a beat.

The sword hadn't fully emerged, and yet it already possessed such immense power. If it were to be fully unleashed, even a Da Luo cultivator might not be able to withstand it. No wonder it required Lan Yuan and Lan Cai to join forces and summon it with a formation.

Han Li's internal immortal energy was almost completely frozen, and even his starlight energy was unable to circulate. The Qingtong Huicong swords were also sealed, and he was unable to break free from the extreme cold.

"This is... a high-grade immortal artifact?" Han Li felt the power and his heart skipped a beat.

The sword hadn't fully emerged, and yet it already possessed such immense power. If it were to be fully unleashed, even a Da Luo cultivator might not be able to withstand it. No wonder it required Lan Yuan and Lan Cai to join forces and summon it with a formation.

Han Li's internal immortal energy was almost completely frozen, and even his starlight energy was unable to circulate. The Qingtong Huicong swords were also sealed, and he was unable to break free from the extreme cold.

"This is... a high-grade immortal artifact?" Han Li felt the power and his heart skipped a beat.

The sword hadn't fully emerged, and yet it already possessed such immense power. If it were to be fully unleashed, even a Da Luo cultivator might not be able to withstand it. No wonder it required Lan Yuan and Lan Cai to join forces and summon it with a formation.

Han Li's internal immortal energy was almost completely frozen, and even his starlight energy was unable to circulate. The Qingtong Huicong swords were also sealed, and he was unable to break free from the extreme cold.

"This is... a high-grade immortal artifact?" Han Li felt the power and his heart skipped a beat.

The sword hadn't fully emerged, and yet it already possessed such immense power. If it were to be fully unleashed, even a Da Luo cultivator might not be able to withstand it. No wonder it required Lan Yuan and Lan Cai to join forces and summon it with a formation.

Han Li's internal immortal energy was almost completely frozen, and even his starlight energy was unable to circulate. The Qingtong Huicong swords were also sealed, and he was unable to break free from the extreme cold.

"This is... a high-grade immortal artifact?" Han Li felt the power and his heart skipped a beat.

The sword hadn't fully emerged, and yet it already possessed such immense power. If it were to be fully unleashed, even a Da Luo cultivator might not be able to withstand it. No wonder it required Lan Yuan and Lan Cai to join forces and summon it with a formation.

Han Li's internal immortal energy was almost completely frozen, and even his starlight energy was unable to circulate. The Qingtong Huicong swords were also sealed, and he was unable to break free from the extreme cold.

"This is... a high-grade immortal artifact?" Han Li felt the power and his heart skipped a beat.

The sword hadn't fully emerged, and yet it already possessed such immense power. If it were to be fully unleashed, even a Da Luo cultivator might not be able to withstand it. No wonder it required Lan Yuan and Lan Cai to join forces and summon it with a formation.

Han Li's internal immortal energy was almost completely frozen, and even his starlight energy was unable to circulate. The Qingtong Huicong swords were also sealed, and he was unable to break free from the extreme cold.

"This is... a high-grade immortal artifact?" Han Li felt the power and his heart skipped a beat.

The sword hadn't fully emerged, and yet it already possessed such immense power. If it were to be fully unleashed, even a Da Luo cultivator might not be able to withstand it. No wonder it required Lan Yuan and Lan Cai to join forces and summon it with a formation.

Han Li's internal immortal energy was almost completely frozen, and even his starlight energy was unable to circulate. The Qingtong Huicong swords were also sealed, and he was unable to break free from the extreme cold.

"This is... a high-grade immortal artifact?" Han Li felt the power and his heart skipped a beat.

The sword hadn't fully emerged, and yet it already possessed such immense power. If it were to be fully unleashed, even a Da Luo cultivator might not be able to withstand it. No wonder it required Lan Yuan and Lan Cai to join forces and summon it with a formation.

Han Li's internal immortal energy was almost completely frozen, and even his starlight energy was unable to circulate. The Qingtong Huicong swords were also sealed, and he was unable to break free from the extreme cold.

"This is... a high-grade immortal artifact?" Han Li felt the power and his heart skipped a beat.

The sword hadn't fully emerged, and yet it already possessed such immense power. If it were to be fully unleashed, even a Da Luo cultivator might not be able to withstand it. No wonder it required Lan Yuan and Lan Cai to join forces and summon it with a formation.

Han Li's internal immortal energy was almost completely frozen, and even his starlight energy was unable to circulate. The Qingtong Huicong swords were also sealed, and he was unable to break free from the extreme cold.

"This is... a high-grade immortal artifact?" Han Li felt the power and his heart skipped a beat.

The sword hadn't fully emerged, and yet it already possessed such immense power. If it were to be fully unleashed, even a Da Luo cultivator might not be able to withstand it. No wonder it required Lan Yuan and Lan Cai to join forces and summon it with a formation.

Han Li's internal immortal energy was almost completely frozen, and even his starlight energy was unable to circulate. The Qingtong Huicong swords were also sealed, and he was unable to break free from the extreme cold.

"This is... a high-grade immortal artifact?" Han Li felt the power and his heart skipped a beat.

The sword hadn't fully emerged, and yet it already possessed such immense power. If it were to be fully unleashed, even a Da Luo cultivator might not be able to withstand it. No wonder it required Lan Yuan and Lan Cai to join forces and summon it with a formation.

Han Li's internal immortal energy was almost completely frozen, and even his starlight energy was unable to circulate. The Qingtong Huicong swords were also sealed, and he was unable to break free from the extreme cold.

"This is... a high-grade immortal artifact?" Han Li felt the power and his heart skipped a beat.

The sword hadn't fully emerged, and yet it already possessed such immense power. If it were to be fully unleashed, even a Da Luo cultivator might not be able to withstand it. No wonder it required Lan Yuan and Lan Cai to join forces and summon it with a formation.

Han Li's internal immortal energy was almost completely frozen, and even his starlight energy was unable to circulate. The Qingtong Huicong swords were also sealed, and he was unable to break free from the extreme cold.

"This is... a high-grade immortal artifact?" Han Li felt the power and his heart skipped a beat.

The sword hadn't fully emerged, and yet it already possessed such immense power. If it were to be fully unleashed, even a Da Luo cultivator might not be able to withstand it. No wonder it required Lan Yuan and Lan Cai to join forces and summon it with a formation.

Han Li's internal immortal energy was almost completely frozen, and even his starlight energy was unable to circulate. The Qingtong Huicong swords were also sealed, and he was unable to break free from the extreme cold.

"This is... a high-grade immortal artifact?" Han Li felt the power and his heart skipped a beat.

The sword hadn't fully emerged, and yet it already possessed such immense power. If it were to be fully unleashed, even a Da Luo cultivator might not be able to withstand it. No wonder it required Lan Yuan and Lan Cai to join forces and summon it with a formation.

Han Li's internal immortal energy was almost completely frozen, and even his starlight energy was unable to circulate. The Qingtong Huicong swords were also sealed, and he was unable to break free from the extreme cold.

"This is... a high-grade immortal artifact?" Han Li felt the power and his heart skipped a beat.

The sword hadn't fully emerged, and yet it already possessed such immense power. If it were to be fully unleashed, even a Da Luo cultivator might not be able to withstand it. No wonder it required Lan Yuan and Lan Cai to join forces and summon it with a formation.

Han Li's internal immortal energy was almost completely frozen, and even his starlight energy was unable to circulate. The Qingtong Huicong swords were also sealed, and he was unable to break free from the extreme cold.

"This is... a high-grade immortal artifact?" Han Li felt the power and his heart skipped a beat.

The sword hadn't fully emerged, and yet it already possessed such immense power. If it were to be fully unleashed, even a Da Luo cultivator might not be able to withstand it. No wonder it required Lan Yuan and Lan Cai to join forces and summon it with a formation.

Han Li's internal immortal energy was almost completely frozen, and even his starlight energy was unable to circulate. The Qingtong Huicong swords were also sealed, and he was unable to break free from the extreme cold.

"This is... a high-grade immortal artifact?" Han Li felt the power and his heart skipped a beat.

The sword hadn't fully emerged, and yet it already possessed such immense power. If it were to be fully unleashed, even a Da Luo cultivator might not be able to withstand it. No wonder it required Lan Yuan and Lan Cai to join forces and summon it with a formation.

Han Li's internal immortal energy was almost completely frozen, and even his starlight energy was unable to circulate. The Qingtong Huicong swords were also sealed, and he was unable to break free from the extreme cold.

"This is... a high-grade immortal artifact?" Han Li felt the power and his heart skipped a beat.

The sword hadn't fully emerged, and yet it already possessed such immense power. If it were to be fully unleashed, even a Da Luo cultivator might not be able to withstand it. No wonder it required Lan Yuan and Lan Cai to join forces and summon it with a formation.

Han Li's internal immortal energy was almost completely frozen, and even his starlight energy was unable to circulate. The Qingtong Huicong swords were also sealed, and he was unable to break free from the extreme cold.

"This is... a high-grade immortal artifact?" Han Li felt the power and his heart skipped a beat.

The sword hadn't fully emerged, and yet it already possessed such immense power. If it were to be fully unleashed, even a Da Luo cultivator might not be able to withstand it. No wonder it required Lan Yuan and Lan Cai to join forces and summon it with a formation.

Han Li's internal immortal energy was almost completely frozen, and even his starlight energy was unable to circulate. The Qingtong Huicong swords were also sealed, and he was unable to break free from the extreme cold.

"This is... a high-grade immortal artifact?" Han Li felt the power and his heart skipped a beat.

The sword hadn't fully emerged, and yet it already possessed such immense power. If it were to be fully unleashed, even a Da Luo cultivator might not be able to withstand it. No wonder it required Lan Yuan and Lan Cai to join forces and summon it with a formation.

Han Li's internal immortal energy was almost completely frozen, and even his starlight energy was unable to circulate. The Qingtong Huicong swords were also sealed, and he was unable to break free from the extreme cold.

"This is... a high-grade immortal artifact?" Han Li felt the power and his heart skipped a beat.

The sword hadn't fully emerged, and yet it already possessed such immense power. If it were to be fully unleashed, even a Da Luo cultivator might not be able to withstand it. No wonder it required Lan Yuan and Lan Cai to join forces and summon it with a formation.

Han Li's internal immortal energy was almost completely frozen, and even his starlight energy was unable to circulate. The Qingtong Huicong swords were also sealed, and he was unable to break free from the extreme cold.

"This is... a high-grade immortal artifact?" Han Li felt the power and his heart skipped a beat.

The sword hadn't fully emerged, and yet it already possessed such immense power. If it were to be fully unleashed, even a Da Luo cultivator might not be able to withstand it. No wonder it required Lan Yuan and Lan Cai to join forces and summon it with a formation.

Han Li's internal immortal energy was almost completely frozen, and even his starlight energy was unable to circulate. The Qingtong Huicong swords were also sealed, and he was unable to break free from the extreme cold.

"This is... a high-grade immortal artifact?" Han Li felt the power and his heart skipped a beat.

The sword hadn't fully emerged, and yet it already possessed such immense power. If it were to be fully unleashed, even a Da Luo cultivator might not be able to withstand it. No wonder it required Lan Yuan and Lan Cai to join forces and summon it with a formation.

Han Li's internal immortal energy was almost completely frozen, and even his starlight energy was unable to circulate. The Qingtong Huicong swords were also sealed, and he was unable to break free from the extreme cold.

"This is... a high-grade immortal artifact?" Han Li felt the power and his heart skipped a beat.

The sword hadn't fully emerged, and yet it already possessed such immense power. If it were to be fully unleashed, even a Da Luo cultivator might not be able to withstand it. No wonder it required Lan Yuan and Lan Cai to join forces and summon it with a formation.

Han Li's internal immortal energy was almost completely frozen, and even his starlight energy was unable to circulate. The Qingtong Huicong swords were also sealed, and he was unable to break free from the extreme cold.

"This is... a high-grade immortal artifact?" Han Li felt the power and his heart skipped a beat.

The sword hadn't fully emerged, and yet it already possessed such immense power. If it were to be fully unleashed, even a Da Luo cultivator might not be able to withstand it. No wonder it required Lan Yuan and Lan Cai to join forces and summon it with a formation.

Han Li's internal immortal energy was almost completely frozen, and even his starlight energy was unable to circulate. The Qingtong Huicong swords were also sealed, and he was unable to break free from the extreme cold.

"This is... a high-grade immortal artifact?" Han Li felt the power and his heart skipped a beat.

The sword hadn't fully emerged, and yet it already possessed such immense power. If it were to be fully unleashed, even a Da Luo cultivator might not be able to withstand it. No wonder it required Lan Yuan and Lan Cai to join forces and summon it with a formation.

Han Li's internal immortal energy was almost completely frozen, and even his starlight energy was unable to circulate. The Qingtong Huicong swords were also sealed, and he was unable to break free from the extreme cold.

"This is... a high-grade immortal artifact?" Han Li felt the power and his heart skipped a beat.

The sword hadn't fully emerged, and yet it already possessed such immense power. If it were to be fully unleashed, even a Da Luo cultivator might not be able to withstand it. No wonder it required Lan Yuan and Lan Cai to join forces and summon it with a formation.

Han Li's internal immortal energy was almost completely frozen, and even his starlight energy was unable to circulate. The Qingtong Huicong swords were also sealed, and he was unable to break free from the extreme cold.

"This is... a high-grade immortal artifact?" Han Li felt the power and his heart skipped a beat.

The sword hadn't fully emerged, and yet it already possessed such immense power. If it were to be fully unleashed, even a Da Luo cultivator might not be able to withstand it. No wonder it required Lan Yuan and Lan Cai to join forces and summon it with a formation.

Han Li's internal immortal energy was almost completely frozen, and even his starlight energy was unable to circulate. The Qingtong Huicong swords were also sealed, and he was unable to break free from the extreme cold.

"This is... a high-grade immortal artifact?" Han Li felt the power and his heart skipped a beat.

The sword hadn't fully emerged, and yet it already possessed such immense power. If it were to be fully unleashed, even a Da Luo cultivator might not be able to withstand it. No wonder it required Lan Yuan and Lan Cai to join forces and summon it with a formation.

Han Li's internal immortal energy was almost completely frozen, and even his starlight energy was unable to circulate. The Qingtong Huicong swords were also sealed, and he was unable to break free from the extreme cold.

"This is... a high-grade immortal artifact?" Han Li felt the power and his heart skipped a beat.

The sword hadn't fully emerged, and yet it already possessed such immense power. If it were to be fully unleashed, even a Da Luo cultivator might not be able to withstand it. No wonder it required Lan Yuan and Lan Cai to join forces and summon it with a formation.

Han Li's internal immortal energy was almost completely frozen, and even his starlight energy was unable to circulate. The Qingtong Huicong swords were also sealed, and he was unable to break free from the extreme cold.

"This is... a high-grade immortal artifact?" Han Li felt the power and his heart skipped a beat.

The sword hadn't fully emerged, and yet it already possessed such immense power. If it were to be fully unleashed, even a Da Luo cultivator might not be able to withstand it. No wonder it required Lan Yuan and Lan Cai to join forces and summon it with a formation.

Han Li's internal immortal energy was almost completely frozen, and even his starlight energy was unable to circulate. The Qingtong Huicong swords were also sealed, and he was unable to break free from the extreme cold.

"This is... a high-grade immortal artifact?" Han Li felt the power and his heart skipped a beat.

The sword hadn't fully emerged, and yet it already possessed such immense power. If it were to be fully unleashed, even a Da Luo cultivator might not be able to withstand it. No wonder it required Lan Yuan and Lan Cai to join forces and summon it with a formation.

Han Li's internal immortal energy was almost completely frozen, and even his starlight energy was unable to circulate. The Qingtong Huicong swords were also sealed, and he was unable to break free from the extreme cold.

"This is... a high-grade immortal artifact?" Han Li felt the power and his heart skipped a beat.

The sword hadn't fully emerged, and yet it already possessed such immense power. If it were to be fully unleashed, even a Da Luo cultivator might not be able to withstand it. No wonder it required Lan Yuan and Lan Cai to join forces and summon it with a formation.

Han Li's internal immortal energy was almost completely frozen, and even his starlight energy was unable to circulate. The Qingtong Huicong swords were also sealed, and he was unable to break free from the extreme cold.

"This is... a high-grade immortal artifact?" Han Li felt the power and his heart skipped a beat.

The sword hadn't fully emerged, and yet it already possessed such immense power. If it were to be fully unleashed, even a Da Luo cultivator might not be able to withstand it. No wonder it required Lan Yuan and Lan Cai to join forces and summon it with a formation.

Han Li's internal immortal energy was almost completely frozen, and even his starlight energy was unable to circulate. The Qingtong Huicong swords were also sealed, and he was unable to break free from the extreme cold.

"This is... a high-grade immortal artifact?" Han Li felt the power and his heart skipped a beat.

The sword hadn't fully emerged, and yet it already possessed such immense power. If it were to be fully unleashed, even a Da Luo cultivator might not be able to withstand it. No wonder it required Lan Yuan and Lan Cai to join forces and summon it with a formation.

Han Li's internal immortal energy was almost completely frozen, and even his starlight energy was unable to circulate. The Qingtong Huicong swords were also sealed, and he was unable to break free from the extreme cold.

"This is... a high-grade immortal artifact?" Han Li felt the power and his heart skipped a beat.

The sword hadn't fully emerged, and yet it already possessed such immense power. If it were to be fully unleashed, even a Da Luo cultivator might not be able to withstand it. No wonder it required Lan Yuan and Lan Cai to join forces and summon it with a formation.

Han Li's internal immortal energy was almost completely frozen, and even his starlight energy was unable to circulate. The Qingtong Huicong swords were also sealed, and he was unable to break free from the extreme cold.

"This is... a high-grade immortal artifact?" Han Li felt the power and his heart skipped a beat.

The sword hadn't fully emerged, and yet it already possessed such immense power. If it were to be fully unleashed, even a Da Luo cultivator might not be able to withstand it. No wonder it required Lan Yuan and Lan Cai to join forces and summon it with a formation.

Han Li's internal immortal energy was almost completely frozen, and even his starlight energy was unable to circulate. The Qingtong Huicong swords were also sealed, and he was unable to break free from the extreme cold.

"This is... a high-grade immortal artifact?" Han Li felt the power and his heart skipped a beat.

The sword hadn't fully emerged, and yet it already possessed such immense power. If it were to be fully unleashed, even a Da Luo cultivator might not be able to withstand it. No wonder it required Lan Yuan and Lan Cai to join forces and summon it with a formation.

Han Li's internal immortal energy was almost completely frozen, and even his starlight energy was unable to circulate. The Qingtong Huicong swords were also sealed, and he was unable to break free from the extreme cold.

"This is... a high-grade immortal artifact?" Han Li felt the power and his heart skipped a beat.

The sword hadn't fully emerged, and yet it already possessed such immense power. If it were to be fully unleashed, even a Da Luo cultivator might not be able to withstand it. No wonder it required Lan Yuan and Lan Cai to join forces and summon it with a formation.

Han Li's internal immortal energy was almost completely frozen, and even his starlight energy was unable to circulate. The Qingtong Huicong swords were also sealed, and he was unable to break free from the extreme cold.

"This is... a high-grade immortal artifact?" Han Li felt the power and his heart skipped a beat.

The sword hadn't fully emerged, and yet it already possessed such immense power. If it were to be fully unleashed, even a Da Luo cultivator might not be able to withstand it. No wonder it required Lan Yuan and Lan Cai to join forces and summon it with a formation.

Han Li's internal immortal energy was almost completely frozen, and even his starlight energy was unable to circulate. The Qingtong Huicong swords were also sealed, and he was unable to break free from the extreme cold.

"This is... a high-grade immortal artifact?" Han Li felt the power and his heart skipped a beat.

The sword hadn't fully emerged, and yet it already possessed such immense power. If it were to be fully unleashed, even a Da Luo cultivator might not be able to withstand it. No wonder it required Lan Yuan and Lan Cai to join forces and summon it with a formation.

Han Li's internal immortal energy was almost completely frozen, and even his starlight energy was unable to circulate. The Qingtong Huicong swords were also sealed, and he was unable to break free from the extreme cold.

"This is... a high-grade immortal artifact?" Han Li felt the power and his heart skipped a beat.

The sword hadn't fully emerged, and yet it already possessed such immense power. If it were to be fully unleashed, even a Da Luo cultivator might not be able to withstand it. No wonder it required Lan Yuan and Lan Cai to join forces and summon it with a formation.

Han Li's internal immortal energy was almost completely frozen, and even his starlight energy was unable to circulate. The Qingtong Huicong swords were also sealed, and he was unable to break free from the extreme cold.

"This is... a high-grade immortal artifact?" Han Li felt the power and his heart skipped a beat.

The sword hadn't fully emerged, and yet it already possessed such immense power. If it were to be fully unleashed, even a Da Luo cultivator might not be able to withstand it. No wonder it required Lan Yuan and Lan Cai to join forces and summon it with a formation.

Han Li's internal immortal energy was almost completely frozen, and even his starlight energy was unable to circulate. The Qingtong Huicong swords were also sealed, and he was unable to break free from the extreme cold.

"This is... a high-grade immortal artifact?" Han Li felt the power and his heart skipped a beat.

The sword hadn't fully emerged, and yet it already possessed such immense power. If it were to be fully unleashed, even a Da Luo cultivator might not be able to withstand it. No wonder it required Lan Yuan and Lan Cai to join forces and summon it with a formation.

Han Li's internal immortal energy was almost completely frozen, and even his starlight energy was unable to circulate. The Qingtong Huicong swords were also sealed, and he was unable to break free from the extreme cold.

"This is... a high-grade immortal artifact?" Han Li felt the power and his heart skipped a beat.

The sword hadn't fully emerged, and yet it already possessed such immense power. If it were to be fully unleashed, even a Da Luo cultivator might not be able to withstand it. No wonder it required Lan Yuan and Lan Cai to join forces and summon it with a formation.

Han Li's internal immortal energy was almost completely frozen, and even his starlight energy was unable to circulate. The Qingtong Huicong swords were also sealed, and he was unable to break free from the extreme cold.

"This is... a high-grade immortal artifact?" Han Li felt the power and his heart skipped a beat.

The sword hadn't fully emerged, and yet it already possessed such immense power. If it were to be fully unleashed, even a Da Luo cultivator might not be able to withstand it. No wonder it required Lan Yuan and Lan Cai to join forces and summon it with a formation.

Han Li's internal immortal energy was almost completely frozen, and even his starlight energy was unable to circulate. The Qingtong Huicong swords were also sealed, and he was unable to break free from the extreme cold.

"This is... a high-grade immortal artifact?" Han Li felt the power and his heart skipped a beat.

The sword hadn't fully emerged, and yet it already possessed such immense power. If it were to be fully unleashed, even a Da Luo cultivator might not be able to withstand it. No wonder it required Lan Yuan and Lan Cai to join forces and summon it with a formation.

Han Li's internal immortal energy was almost completely frozen, and even his starlight energy was unable to circulate. The Qingtong Huicong swords were also sealed, and he was unable to break free from the extreme cold.

"This is... a high-grade immortal artifact?" Han Li felt the power and his heart skipped a beat.

The sword hadn't fully emerged, and yet it already possessed such immense power. If it were to be fully unleashed, even a Da Luo cultivator might not be able to withstand it. No wonder it required Lan Yuan and Lan Cai to join forces and summon it with a formation.

Han Li's internal immortal energy was almost completely frozen, and even his starlight energy was unable to circulate. The Qingtong Huicong swords were also sealed, and he was unable to break free from the extreme cold.

"This is... a high-grade immortal artifact?" Han Li felt the power and his heart skipped a beat.

The sword hadn't fully emerged, and yet it already possessed such immense power. If it were to be fully unleashed, even a Da Luo cultivator might not be able to withstand it. No wonder it required Lan Yuan and Lan Cai to join forces and summon it with a formation.

Han Li's internal immortal energy was almost completely frozen, and even his starlight energy was unable to circulate. The Qingtong Huicong swords were also sealed, and he was unable to break free from the extreme cold.

"This is... a high-grade immortal artifact?" Han Li felt the power and his heart skipped a beat.

The sword hadn't fully emerged, and yet it already possessed such immense power. If it were to be fully unleashed, even a Da Luo cultivator might not be able to withstand it. No wonder it required Lan Yuan and Lan Cai to join forces and summon it with a formation.

Han Li's internal immortal energy was almost completely frozen, and even his starlight energy was unable to circulate. The Qingtong Huicong swords were also sealed, and he was unable to break free from the extreme cold.

"This is... a high-grade immortal artifact?" Han Li felt the power and his heart skipped a beat.

The sword hadn't fully emerged, and yet it already possessed such immense power. If it were to be fully unleashed, even a Da Luo cultivator might not be able to withstand it. No wonder it required Lan Yuan and Lan Cai to join forces and summon it with a formation.

Han Li's internal immortal energy was almost completely frozen, and even his starlight energy was unable to circulate. The Qingtong Huicong swords were also sealed, and he was unable to break free from the extreme cold.

"This is... a high-grade immortal artifact?" Han Li felt the power and his heart skipped a beat.

The sword hadn't fully emerged, and yet it already possessed such immense power. If it were to be fully unleashed, even a Da Luo cultivator might not be able to withstand it. No wonder it required Lan Yuan and Lan Cai to join forces and summon it with a formation.

Han Li's internal immortal energy was almost completely frozen, and even his starlight energy was unable to circulate. The Qingtong Huicong swords were also sealed, and he was unable to break free from the extreme cold.

"This is... a high-grade immortal artifact?" Han Li felt the power and his heart skipped a beat.

The sword hadn't fully emerged, and yet it already possessed such immense power. If it were to be fully unleashed, even a Da Luo cultivator might not be able to withstand it. No wonder it required Lan Yuan and Lan Cai to join forces and summon it with a formation.

Han Li's internal immortal energy was almost completely frozen, and even his starlight energy was unable to circulate. The Qingtong Huicong swords were also sealed, and he was unable to break free from the extreme cold.

"This is... a high-grade immortal artifact?" Han Li felt the power and his heart skipped a beat.

The sword hadn't fully emerged, and yet it already possessed such immense power. If it were to be fully unleashed, even a Da Luo cultivator might not be able to withstand it. No wonder it required Lan Yuan and Lan Cai to join forces and summon it with a formation.

Han Li's internal immortal energy was almost completely frozen, and even his starlight energy was unable to circulate. The Qingtong Huicong swords were also sealed, and he was unable to break free from the extreme cold.

"This is... a high-grade immortal artifact?" Han Li felt the power and his heart skipped a beat.

The sword hadn't fully emerged, and yet it already possessed such immense power. If it were to be fully unleashed, even a Da Luo cultivator might not be able to withstand it. No wonder it required Lan Yuan and Lan Cai to join forces and summon it with a formation.

Han Li's internal immortal energy was almost completely frozen, and even his starlight energy was unable to circulate. The Qingtong Huicong swords were also sealed, and he was unable to break free from the extreme cold.

"This is... a high-grade immortal artifact?" Han Li felt the power and his heart skipped a beat.

The sword hadn't fully emerged, and yet it already possessed such immense power. If it were to be fully unleashed, even a Da Luo cultivator might not be able to withstand it. No wonder it required Lan Yuan and Lan Cai to join forces and summon it with a formation.

Han Li's internal immortal energy was almost completely frozen, and even his starlight energy was unable to circulate. The Qingtong Huicong swords were also sealed, and he was unable to break free from the extreme cold.

"This is... a high-grade immortal artifact?" Han Li felt the power and his heart skipped a beat.

The sword hadn't fully emerged, and yet it already possessed such immense power. If it were to be fully unleashed, even a Da Luo cultivator might not be able to withstand it. No wonder it required Lan Yuan and Lan Cai to join forces and summon it with a formation.

Han Li's internal immortal energy was almost completely frozen, and even his starlight energy was unable to circulate. The Qingtong Huicong swords were also sealed, and he was unable to break free from the extreme cold.

"This is... a high-grade immortal artifact?" Han Li felt the power and his heart skipped a beat.

The sword hadn't fully emerged, and yet it already possessed such immense power. If it were to be fully unleashed, even a Da Luo cultivator might not be able to withstand it. No wonder it required Lan Yuan and Lan Cai to join forces and summon it with a formation.

Han Li's internal immortal energy was almost completely frozen, and even his starlight energy was unable to circulate. The Qingtong Huicong swords were also sealed, and he was unable to break free from the extreme cold.

"This is... a high-grade immortal artifact?" Han Li felt the power and his heart skipped a beat.

The sword hadn't fully emerged, and yet it already possessed such immense power. If it were to be fully unleashed, even a Da Luo cultivator might not be able to withstand it. No wonder it required Lan Yuan and Lan Cai to join forces and summon it with a formation.

Han Li's internal immortal energy was almost completely frozen, and even his starlight energy was unable to circulate. The Qingtong Huicong swords were also sealed, and he was unable to break free from the extreme cold.

"This is... a high-grade immortal artifact?" Han Li felt the power and his heart skipped a beat.

The sword hadn't fully emerged, and yet it already possessed such immense power. If it were to be fully unleashed, even a Da Luo cultivator might not be able to withstand it. No wonder it required Lan Yuan and Lan Cai to join forces and summon it with a formation.

Han Li's internal immortal energy was almost completely frozen, and even his starlight energy was unable to circulate. The Qingtong Huicong swords were also sealed, and he was unable to break free from the extreme cold.

"This is... a high-grade immortal artifact?" Han Li felt the power and his heart skipped a beat.

The sword hadn't fully emerged, and yet it already possessed such immense power. If it were to be fully unleashed, even a Da Luo cultivator might not be able to withstand it. No wonder it required Lan Yuan and Lan Cai to join forces and summon it with a formation.

Han Li's internal immortal energy was almost completely frozen, and even his starlight energy was unable to circulate. The Qingtong Huicong swords were also sealed, and he was unable to break free from the extreme cold.

"This is... a high-grade immortal artifact?" Han Li felt the power and his heart skipped a beat.

The sword hadn't fully emerged, and yet it already possessed such immense power. If it were to be fully unleashed, even a Da Luo cultivator might not be able to withstand it. No wonder it required Lan Yuan and Lan Cai to join forces and summon it with a formation.

Han Li's internal immortal energy was almost completely frozen, and even his starlight energy was unable to circulate. The Qingtong Huicong swords were also sealed, and he was unable to break free from the extreme cold.

"This is... a high-grade immortal artifact?" Han Li felt the power and his heart skipped a beat.

The sword hadn't fully emerged, and yet it already possessed such immense power. If it were to be fully unleashed, even a Da Luo cultivator might not be able to withstand it. No wonder it required Lan Yuan and Lan Cai to join forces and summon it with a formation.

Han Li's internal immortal energy was almost completely frozen, and even his starlight energy was unable to circulate. The Qingtong Huicong swords were also sealed, and he was unable to break free from the extreme cold.

"This is... a high-grade immortal artifact?" Han Li felt the power and his heart skipped a beat.

The sword hadn't fully emerged, and yet it already possessed such immense power. If it were to be fully unleashed, even a Da Luo cultivator might not be able to withstand it. No wonder it required Lan Yuan and Lan Cai to join forces and summon it with a formation.

Han Li's internal immortal energy was almost completely frozen, and even his starlight energy was unable to circulate. The Qingtong Huicong swords were also sealed, and he was unable to break free from the extreme cold.

"This is... a high-grade immortal artifact?" Han Li felt the power and his heart skipped a beat.

The sword hadn't fully emerged, and yet it already possessed such immense power. If it were to be fully unleashed, even a Da Luo cultivator might not be able to withstand it. No wonder it required Lan Yuan and Lan Cai to join forces and summon it with a formation.

Han Li's internal immortal energy was almost completely frozen, and even his starlight energy was unable to circulate. The Qingtong Huicong swords were also sealed, and he was unable to break free from the extreme cold.

"This is... a high-grade immortal artifact?" Han Li felt the power and his heart skipped a beat.

The sword hadn't fully emerged, and yet it already possessed such immense power. If it were to be fully unleashed, even a Da Luo cultivator might not be able to withstand it. No wonder it required Lan Yuan and Lan Cai to join forces and summon it with a formation.

Han Li's internal immortal energy was almost completely frozen, and even his starlight energy was unable to circulate. The Qingtong Huicong swords were also sealed, and he was unable to break free from the extreme cold.

"This is... a high-grade immortal artifact?" Han Li felt the power and his heart skipped a beat.

The sword hadn't fully emerged, and yet it already possessed such immense power. If it were to be fully unleashed, even a Da Luo cultivator might not be able to withstand it. No wonder it required Lan Yuan and Lan Cai to join forces and summon it with a formation.

Han Li's internal immortal energy was almost completely frozen, and even his starlight energy was unable to circulate. The Qingtong Huicong swords were also sealed, and he was unable to break free from the extreme cold.

"This is... a high-grade immortal artifact?" Han Li felt the power and his heart skipped a beat.

The sword hadn't fully emerged, and yet it already possessed such immense power. If it were to be fully unleashed, even a Da Luo cultivator might not be able to withstand it. No wonder it required Lan Yuan and Lan Cai to join forces and summon it with a formation.

Han Li's internal immortal energy was almost completely frozen, and even his starlight energy was unable to circulate. The Qingtong Huicong swords were also sealed, and he was unable to break free from the extreme cold.

"This is... a high-grade immortal artifact?" Han Li felt the power and his heart skipped a beat.

The sword hadn't fully emerged, and yet it already possessed such immense power. If it were to be fully unleashed, even a Da Luo cultivator might not be able to withstand it. No wonder it required Lan Yuan and Lan Cai to join forces and summon it with a formation.

Han Li's internal immortal energy was almost completely frozen, and even his starlight energy was unable to circulate. The Qingtong Huicong swords were also sealed, and he was unable to break free from the extreme cold.

"This is... a high-grade immortal artifact?" Han Li felt the power and his heart skipped a beat.

The sword hadn't fully emerged, and yet it already possessed such immense power. If it were to be fully unleashed, even a Da Luo cultivator might not be able to withstand it. No wonder it required Lan Yuan and Lan Cai to join forces and summon it with a formation.

Han Li's internal immortal energy was almost completely frozen, and even his starlight energy was unable to circulate. The Qingtong Huicong swords were also sealed, and he was unable to break free from the extreme cold.

"This is... a high-grade immortal artifact?" Han Li felt the power and his heart skipped a beat.

The sword hadn't fully emerged, and yet it already possessed such immense power. If it were to be fully unleashed, even a Da Luo cultivator might not be able to withstand it. No wonder it required Lan Yuan and Lan Cai to join forces and summon it with a formation.

Han Li's internal immortal energy was almost completely frozen, and even his starlight energy was unable to circulate. The Qingtong Huicong swords were also sealed, and he was unable to break free from the extreme cold.

"This is... a high-grade immortal artifact?" Han Li felt the power and his heart skipped a beat.

The sword hadn't fully emerged, and yet it already possessed such immense power. If it were to be fully unleashed, even a Da Luo cultivator might not be able to withstand it. No wonder it required Lan Yuan and Lan Cai to join forces and summon it with a formation.

Han Li's internal immortal energy was almost completely frozen, and even his starlight energy was unable to circulate. The Qingtong Huicong swords were also sealed, and he was unable to break free from the extreme cold.

"This is... a high-grade immortal artifact?" Han Li felt the power and his heart skipped a beat.

The sword hadn't fully emerged, and yet it already possessed such immense power. If it were to be fully unleashed, even a Da Luo cultivator might not be able to withstand it. No wonder it required Lan Yuan and Lan Cai to join forces and summon it with a formation.

Han Li's internal immortal energy was almost completely frozen, and even his starlight energy was unable to circulate. The Qingtong Huicong swords were also sealed, and he was unable to break free from the extreme cold.

"This is... a high-grade immortal artifact?" Han Li felt the power and his heart skipped a beat.

The sword hadn't fully emerged, and yet it already possessed such immense power. If it were to be fully unleashed, even a Da Luo cultivator might not be able to withstand it. No wonder it required Lan Yuan and Lan Cai to join forces and summon it with a formation.

Han Li's internal immortal energy was almost completely frozen, and even his starlight energy was unable to circulate. The Qingtong Huicong swords were also sealed, and he was unable to break free from the extreme cold.

"This is... a high-grade immortal artifact?" Han Li felt the power and his heart skipped a beat.

The sword hadn't fully emerged, and yet it already possessed such immense power. If it were to be fully unleashed, even a Da Luo cultivator might not be able to withstand it. No wonder it required Lan Yuan and Lan Cai to join forces and summon it with a formation.

Han Li's internal immortal energy was almost completely frozen, and even his starlight energy was unable to circulate. The Qingtong Huicong swords were also sealed, and he was unable to break free from the extreme cold.

"This is... a high-grade immortal artifact?" Han Li felt the power and his heart skipped a beat.

The sword hadn't fully emerged, and yet it already possessed such immense power. If it were to be fully unleashed, even a Da Luo cultivator might not be able to withstand it. No wonder it required Lan Yuan and Lan Cai to join forces and summon it with a formation.

Han Li's internal immortal energy was almost completely frozen, and even his starlight energy was unable to circulate. The Qingtong Huicong swords were also sealed, and he was unable to break free from the extreme cold.

"This is... a high-grade immortal artifact?" Han Li felt the power and his heart skipped a beat.

The sword hadn't fully emerged, and yet it already possessed such immense power. If it were to be fully unleashed, even a Da Luo cultivator might not be able to withstand it. No wonder it required Lan Yuan and Lan Cai to join forces and summon it with a formation.

Han Li's internal immortal energy was almost completely frozen, and even his starlight energy was unable to circulate. The Qingtong Huicong swords were also sealed, and he was unable to break free from the extreme cold.

"This is... a high-grade immortal artifact?" Han Li felt the power and his heart skipped a beat.

The sword hadn't fully emerged, and yet it already possessed such immense power. If it were to be fully unleashed, even a Da Luo cultivator might not be able to withstand it. No wonder it required Lan Yuan and Lan Cai to join forces and summon it with a formation.

Han Li's internal immortal energy was almost completely frozen, and even his starlight energy was unable to circulate. The Qingtong Huicong swords were also sealed, and he was unable to break free from the extreme cold.

"This is... a high-grade immortal artifact?" Han Li felt the power and his heart skipped a beat.

The sword hadn't fully emerged, and yet it already possessed such immense power. If it were to be fully unleashed, even a Da Luo cultivator might not be able to withstand it. No wonder it required Lan Yuan and Lan Cai to join forces and summon it with a formation.

Han Li's internal immortal energy was almost completely frozen, and even his starlight energy was unable to circulate. The Qingtong Huicong swords were also sealed, and he was unable to break free from the extreme cold.

"This is... a high-grade immortal artifact?" Han Li felt the power and his heart skipped a beat.

The sword hadn't fully emerged, and yet it already possessed such immense power. If it were to be fully unleashed, even a Da Luo cultivator might not be able to withstand it. No wonder it required Lan Yuan and Lan Cai to join forces and summon it with a formation.

Han Li's internal immortal energy was almost completely frozen, and even his starlight energy was unable to circulate. The Qingtong Huicong swords were also sealed, and he was unable to break free from the extreme cold.

"This is... a high-grade immortal artifact?" Han Li felt the power and his heart skipped a beat.

The sword hadn't fully emerged, and yet it already possessed such immense power. If it were to be fully unleashed, even a Da Luo cultivator might not be able to withstand it. No wonder it required Lan Yuan and Lan Cai to join forces and summon it with a formation.

Han Li's internal immortal energy was almost completely frozen, and even his starlight energy was unable to circulate. The Qingtong Huicong swords were also sealed, and he was unable to break free from the extreme cold.

"This is... a high-grade immortal artifact?" Han Li felt the power and his heart skipped a beat.

The sword hadn't fully emerged, and yet it already possessed such immense power. If it were to be fully unleashed, even a Da Luo cultivator might not be able to withstand it. No wonder it required Lan Yuan and Lan Cai to join forces and summon it with a formation.

Han Li's internal immortal energy was almost completely frozen, and even his starlight energy was unable to circulate. The Qingtong Huicong swords were also sealed, and he was unable to break free from the extreme cold.

"This is... a high-grade immortal artifact?" Han Li felt the power and his heart skipped a beat.

The sword hadn't fully emerged, and yet it already possessed such immense power. If it were to be fully unleashed, even a Da Luo cultivator might not be able to withstand it. No wonder it required Lan Yuan and Lan Cai to join forces and summon it with a formation.

Han Li's internal immortal energy was almost completely frozen, and even his starlight energy was unable to circulate. The Qingtong Huicong swords were also sealed, and he was unable to break free from the extreme cold.

"This is... a high-grade immortal artifact?" Han Li felt the power and his heart skipped a beat.

The sword hadn't fully emerged, and yet it already possessed such immense power. If it were to be fully unleashed, even a Da Luo cultivator might not be able to withstand it. No wonder it required Lan Yuan and Lan Cai to join forces and summon it with a formation.

Han Li's internal immortal energy was almost completely frozen, and even his starlight energy was unable to circulate. The Qingtong Huicong swords were also sealed, and he was unable to break free from the extreme cold.

"This is... a high-grade immortal artifact?" Han Li felt the power and his heart skipped a beat.

The sword hadn't fully emerged, and yet it already possessed such immense power. If it were to be fully unleashed, even a Da Luo cultivator might not be able to withstand it. No wonder it required Lan Yuan and Lan Cai to join forces and summon it with a formation.

Han Li's internal immortal energy was almost completely frozen, and even his starlight energy was unable to circulate. The Qingtong Huicong swords were also sealed, and he was unable to break free from the extreme cold.

"This is... a high-grade immortal artifact?" Han Li felt the power and his heart skipped a beat.

The sword hadn't fully emerged, and yet it already possessed such immense power. If it were to be fully unleashed, even a Da Luo cultivator might not be able to withstand it. No wonder it required Lan Yuan and Lan Cai to join forces and summon it with a formation.

Han Li's internal immortal energy was almost completely frozen, and even his starlight energy was unable to circulate. The Qingtong Huicong swords were also sealed, and he was unable to break free from the extreme cold.

"This is... a high-grade immortal artifact?" Han Li felt the power and his heart skipped a beat.

The sword hadn't fully emerged, and yet it already possessed such immense power. If it were to be fully unleashed, even a Da Luo cultivator might not be able to withstand it. No wonder it required Lan Yuan and Lan Cai to join forces and summon it with a formation.

Han Li's internal immortal energy was almost completely frozen, and even his starlight energy was unable to circulate. The Qingtong Huicong swords were also sealed, and he was unable to break free from the extreme cold.

"This is... a high-grade immortal artifact?" Han Li felt the power and his heart skipped a beat.

The sword hadn't fully emerged, and yet it already possessed such immense power. If it were to be fully unleashed, even a Da Luo cultivator might not be able to withstand it. No wonder it required Lan Yuan and Lan Cai to join forces and summon it with a formation.

Han Li's internal immortal energy was almost completely frozen, and even his starlight energy was unable to circulate. The Qingtong Huicong swords were also sealed, and he was unable to break free from the extreme cold.

"This is... a high-grade immortal artifact?" Han Li felt the power and his heart skipped a beat.

The sword hadn't fully emerged, and yet it already possessed such immense power. If it were to be fully unleashed, even a Da Luo cultivator might not be able to withstand it. No wonder it required Lan Yuan and Lan Cai to join forces and summon it with a formation.

Han Li's internal immortal energy was almost completely frozen, and even his starlight energy was unable to circulate. The Qingtong Huicong swords were also sealed, and he was unable to break free from the extreme cold.

"This is... a high-grade immortal artifact?" Han Li felt the power and his heart skipped a beat.

The sword hadn't fully emerged, and yet it already possessed such immense power. If it were to be fully unleashed, even a Da Luo cultivator might not be able to withstand it. No wonder it required Lan Yuan and Lan Cai to join forces and summon it with a formation.

Han Li's internal immortal energy was almost completely frozen, and even his starlight energy was unable to circulate. The Qingtong Huicong swords were also sealed, and he was unable to break free from the extreme cold.

"This is... a high-grade immortal artifact?" Han Li felt the power and his heart skipped a beat.

The sword hadn't fully emerged, and yet it already possessed such immense power. If it were to be fully unleashed, even a Da Luo cultivator might not be able to withstand it. No wonder it required Lan Yuan and Lan Cai to join forces and summon it with a formation.

Han Li's internal immortal energy was almost completely frozen, and even his starlight energy was unable to circulate. The Qingtong Huicong swords were also sealed, and he was unable to break free from the extreme cold.

"This is... a high-grade immortal artifact?" Han Li felt the power and his heart skipped a beat.

The sword hadn't fully emerged, and yet it already possessed such immense power. If it were to be fully unleashed, even a Da Luo cultivator might not be able to withstand it. No wonder it required Lan Yuan and Lan Cai to join forces and summon it with a formation.

Han Li's internal immortal energy was almost completely frozen, and even his starlight energy was unable to circulate. The Qingtong Huicong swords were also sealed, and he was unable to break free from the extreme cold.

"This is... a high-grade immortal artifact?" Han Li felt the power and his heart skipped a beat.

The sword hadn't fully emerged, and yet it already possessed such immense power. If it were to be fully unleashed, even a Da Luo cultivator might not be able to withstand it. No wonder it required Lan Yuan and Lan Cai to join forces and summon it with a formation.

Han Li's internal immortal energy was almost completely frozen, and even his starlight energy was unable to circulate. The Qingtong Huicong swords were also sealed, and he was unable to break free from the extreme cold.

"This is... a high-grade immortal artifact?" Han Li felt the power and his heart skipped a beat.

The sword hadn't fully emerged, and yet it already possessed such immense power. If it were to be fully unleashed, even a Da Luo cultivator might not be able to withstand it. No wonder it required Lan Yuan and Lan Cai to join forces and summon it with a formation.

Han Li's internal immortal energy was almost completely frozen, and even his starlight energy was unable to circulate. The Qingtong Huicong swords were also sealed, and he was unable to break free from the extreme cold.

"This is... a high-grade immortal artifact?" Han Li felt the power and his heart skipped a beat.

The sword hadn't fully emerged, and yet it already possessed such immense power. If it were to be fully unleashed, even a Da Luo cultivator might not be able to withstand it. No wonder it required Lan Yuan and Lan Cai to join forces and summon it with a formation.

Han Li's internal immortal energy was almost completely frozen, and even his starlight energy was unable to circulate. The Qingtong Huicong swords were also sealed, and he was unable to break free from the extreme cold.

"This is... a high-grade immortal artifact?" Han Li felt the power and his heart skipped a beat.

The sword hadn't fully emerged, and yet it already possessed such immense power. If it were to be fully unleashed, even a Da Luo cultivator might not be able to withstand it. No wonder it required Lan Yuan and Lan Cai to join forces and summon it with a formation.

Han Li's internal immortal energy

The Ice Sculpture's words had barely faded away when the Pure Flame Firebird let out another clear cry, its wings spreading wide as it charged upwards.

The already fallen Profound Ice Slash Sword was immediately struck with great force, all the blue light threads being repelled back, and the sword body once again disappeared into the circular symbol.

The Pure Flame Firebird's divine might was fully displayed, but it didn't stop, its body behind it radiating flames that surged out like a peacock's tail, shooting out numerous silver fireballs that continuously struck the blue light barrier of the Ling Domain that the Blue siblings had merged into.

The Ling Domain barrier immediately became unstable, and with a great tremor, cracks began to appear.

A moment later, the sound of shattering ice crystals rang out, and the five statues of indeterminate sex on the ice sculptures all appeared with cracks, suddenly shattering with a loud cracking sound.

Immediately after, the Ling Domain barrier also dissipated, but the Blue siblings' auras had also disappeared.

Han Li, who had escaped, still felt the chill in his body, his limbs somewhat numb.

He stretched out his hand, and the Pure Flame Firebird immediately flew back, landing on his shoulder.

Han Li only felt a warmth on his shoulder, a warm flow spreading throughout his body, the chill on his skin slowly seeping out and disappearing.

He swept his gaze around, only to see that all the metal beasts had hidden themselves, the advance team members who had entered with him had all been annihilated, not a single one surviving.

The Vice Pavilion Master Zhao had been torn into two pieces by the metal beasts, and Yu Kuohai had been affected by the cold aura, leaning against a golden stone pillar, already frozen to death.

Han Li's face sank, and he patted the Pure Flame Firebird on the shoulder, putting it away, before striding towards the depths of the space.

Since the other party was truly the Blue siblings sent by the Heavenly Court, and had discovered his tracks here, he had to quickly get rid of them, if he let them return to the Heavenly Court, his situation would become even more troublesome.

…

Outside the stone gate, the crowd waited for a long time, seeing that there was no movement inside, each person's expression was strange, as they looked inside.

"We can't wait any longer, we'll go in too." Jin Liucheng said after a long time.

The other sect members heard this and looked at each other, no one moving.

After all, the commotion inside earlier was too terrifying, making them still a bit apprehensive.

"Inside, the movement has stopped for a long time, the advance team probably passed through on their own, if we don't hurry, we'll be left with nothing but dust." Jin Liucheng's face turned cold, saying.

The crowd heard this, their expressions changing, revealing a bit of hesitation.

Jin Liucheng looked at Su Zhenzhen, and the two of them took the lead, stepping over the stone gate and entering.

The rest of the people followed.

Everyone felt the influence of the Golden Force Field as they entered, each person's expression twisting in discomfort.

But when they walked a short distance, their expressions all changed to shock and terror, seeing that the surroundings were a mess, with corpses and debris everywhere, looking like a hellish scene.

"What happened here..." Fu Guizhu's face turned pale, muttering to himself.

His words had barely faded away when he suddenly looked up, his eyes fixed on a golden stone pillar above him in shock.

A metal beast, shaped like a wolf, suddenly pounced down from above, its speed like lightning, pressing him down.

Immediately, metal beasts appeared one after another, a fierce battle cry ringing out...

At the same time, Han Li had already arrived at a stone gate in the depths of the space.

The gate was half-open, clearly the Blue siblings had escaped inside.

Han Li's divine sense swept the surroundings, and he also flashed inside.

Only to see that outside the gate was a spacious hall, with no decorations, only a wide black stone staircase that spiralled upwards.

Han Li followed the staircase, the staircase ending at a dark red light gate, which seemed to be a space transmission gate, unknown where it led.

He carefully probed with his divine sense, but his divine sense couldn't penetrate, nor could he sense the situation inside.

He hesitated for a moment, then flashed inside.

Han Li only felt a flash of light, and appeared in a scarlet world.

This place was completely different from the first layer, a vast open space, with a dark red sky floating with red clouds, the surroundings an endless scarlet desert, filled with an intense heat.

Behind him, a tall stone gate stood, with a black light screen in the middle, slightly undulating.

Next to the stone gate stood a stone stele, with a giant "2" character written on it, the font majestic and powerful.

Han Li instinctively swept his divine sense around, finding that this place was different from the first layer, his divine sense restricted, but able to barely expand.

The Blue siblings were still nowhere to be seen, but the remnants of their auras still lingered in the air, fleeing into the distance.

Han Li confirmed that there was nothing unusual in the surroundings, and immediately flew out, transforming into a golden rainbow, chasing after the two.

"Ah!"

He flashed out, immediately feeling a special restriction in the air, emitting a time force fluctuation, limiting his speed to only half of his normal speed.

"This restriction is similar to my Time Domain, but my domain doesn't restrict the range of my divine sense..." Han Li thought in surprise, but quickly didn't think about it, reversing his True Wheel divine ability.

Since this restriction was related to time laws, reversing the True Wheel should be effective. Whoosh!

As expected, once he activated the Inverted True Wheel, the golden rainbow's speed suddenly increased, almost restoring it to its original speed, and shot forward in pursuit.

However, just a moment later, the escaping lights of Lan Yuanzi and Lan Yan appeared within Han Li's spiritual sense range.

The two of them were dressed in tattered and charred clothing, their auras weakened compared to before, as if they had been burned by intense flames.

Lan Yuanzi and Lan Yan were currently fleeing towards the distance, but their speed was also slower than usual, as if they had been slowed down by about half.

Han Li's golden rainbow surged once more, chasing after the two of them like lightning, and the distance between them rapidly closed.

"No, that Han kid is catching up!" Lan Yuanzi and Lan Yan sensed the situation behind them and were shocked.

"Brother!" Lan Yan immediately looked at Lan Yuanzi.

Lan Yuanzi didn't hesitate, and the two of them clasped their hands together, chanting in unison.

A stream of law energy burst out from their bodies, merging together.

Their escaping lights also intertwined and surged, forming a massive blue bird-like shape, hundreds of meters in size, with rapidly flapping wings, increasing their speed by about half.

Although Lan Yuanzi and Lan Yan had used their secret technique to increase their speed, they were still far inferior to Han Li.

The distance between them rapidly closed, and soon they were only a dozen or so miles apart.

"This guy's speed is too fast!" Lan Yan looked at Han Li, who was rapidly approaching, and turned to Lan Yuanzi with a panicked expression.

"I'll hold him back, you go first!" Lan Yuanzi's eyes flashed, and with a sudden determination, he pushed Lan Yan forward, sending him flying towards the distance, while he turned to face Han Li.

"Brother!" Lan Yan cried out, his body flashing with light, and he immediately stabilized his form, intending to turn back.

"Idiot, do you want to waste all our hard work? Hurry up and go! Don't worry about me, I have my own way to survive!" Lan Yuanzi transmitted a furious roar.

As he spoke, he raised his hands, and a white, dragon-embroidered flag appeared in one hand, while a blue, flame-filled cauldron appeared in the other.

He swung his hands, and the two objects shot out.

The white flag flashed with blue light, transforming into a hundred-meter-long, blue and white dragon, which spat out a blast of blue energy that enveloped Han Li.

The energy was mixed with chunks of white ice crystals, which collided with each other, producing a deafening roar, and the air trembled with the force of the attack.

The cauldron spun around, releasing a wave of blue ice flames that engulfed Han Li, freezing the air around him.

The range of the attack was enormous, almost blocking off the entire sky.

The originally dry and scorching environment was suddenly transformed into a frozen wasteland, with the temperature plummeting.

Lan Yan stood still, his eyes welling up with tears, his lips trembling, but he eventually turned to flee.

Han Li's fleeing form stopped, and he raised his hand.

A green light shot out from his sleeve, rapidly expanding and splitting into two massive, green hands that inserted themselves into the dragon's energy blast and the blue ice flames.

The energy blast and ice flames halted just ten meters in front of Han Li, then dissipated like bubbles.

Han Li stood, his hands grasping the white flag and blue cauldron, which were still struggling to break free.

But Lan Yuanzi's figure had disappeared.

Han Li's brow furrowed, and he formed a hand seal.

The green light flashed, and the two artifacts flew back into his sleeve, and he shot forward, chasing after Lan Yan, who was still visible in the distance.

Just then, the air in front of him began to distort, producing a rumbling sound like thunder.

A series of blue, crack-like markings appeared, filling the air with a dense, blue glow that surged towards Han Li.

Han Li was engulfed by the blue light, as if he were in a raging storm.

His fleeing form halted, and he was sent flying backward, his brow furrowed in concern, as a brilliant, golden light erupted from his body, stabilizing him.

But before Han Li could react, the blue light around him rapidly coalesced into a massive, blue sphere, hundreds of meters in size.

The sphere's interior was filled with churning, blue energy, which was exerting a powerful, law-based pressure on Han Li from all sides.

The surrounding space energy was also being compressed, making it difficult for Han Li to move.

However, Han Li's physical body was incredibly resilient, and he adapted to the pressure in just a few breaths, regaining his mobility.

A purple light flashed in his eyes, and he formed a hand seal.

He shot out a crystal-like, chain-like energy that was unaffected by the surrounding pressure, rapidly disappearing into the distance.

"Whoosh!"

A figure was dragged out of the void, bound by the crystal chain, and it was Lan Yuanzi.

His body was radiating an intense, blue light, as if it were burning, and it was filled with powerful, law-based energy.

(Hey, fellow cultivators, sorry about this! I've got some stuff to take care of, so I'll only be updating once a day for the next two days.

Han Li saw the situation and a hint of surprise flashed in his eyes.

It turned out that Lan Yuanzi was using some secret technique to burn the power of the laws within his body, no wonder he could suddenly burst out with such powerful strength.

He thought to himself, his hands didn't hesitate for a moment, and he immediately made a hand seal and swung his arm.

In the flash of golden light, the True Speech Treasure Wheel appeared behind him, spinning rapidly.

Countless golden ripples burst forth from the True Speech Treasure Wheel, instantly enveloping a range of thousands of feet.

The blue light balls around him immediately stopped, and Lan Yuanzi was about to break free from the divine sense chain and escape, but the golden ripples were too fast, and he was trapped before he could escape.

The blue light that had surged out of the void nearby suddenly stopped, and everything around him quickly returned to calm.

Han Li, on the other hand, moved his body and easily flew out of the blue light ball, and with a flicker, he appeared in front of Lan Yuanzi, his five fingers pressed against Lan Yuanzi's forehead, ready to crush him.

However, he stopped and looked in the direction Lan Cai had escaped, then looked at Lan Yuanzi in his hand, and a figure appeared in his mind - his little sister. He sighed softly and raised his hand to slap Lan Yuanzi's lower abdomen.

Instantly, five streams of time law power burst forth from his palm, spinning rapidly and condensing into a five-element seal, which sank into Lan Yuanzi's body.

The sealing technique of the "Great Five Elements Illusory World" could also seal others.

Han Li then took Lan Yuanzi's storage ring and checked his body with his divine sense, finding nothing hidden, before putting away the True Speech Treasure Wheel and the golden ripples around him.

The blue light and law power on Lan Yuanzi's body dissipated rapidly, like ice and snow in the scorching sun, and he fell to the ground, devoid of any spiritual energy.

Han Li reached out and caught Lan Yuanzi, and they landed on the ground.

At this moment, Lan Cai had already escaped from Han Li's divine sense range, and although there were still some residual auras, the hope of catching up was slim.

Moreover, this place seemed to be safe, but Han Li's heart was still filled with a sense of unease, and he didn't dare to continue chasing after Lan Cai.

"Such a powerful sealing technique, no wonder you were able to escape the Golden Source Heavenly Palace's pursuit three times. I, Lan Yuanzi, admit defeat," Lan Yuanzi said with a smile.

"You're quite bold, still able to laugh in this situation," Han Li said, looking at Lan Yuanzi.

"My life is now in your hands, friend. Whether I laugh or cry, I believe it won't affect your judgment. So, I'd rather make the most of it," Lan Yuanzi said nonchalantly.

"Since you have self-awareness, I have a few questions to ask you. If you don't want me to search your soul, just answer honestly," Han Li said, his expression cold and detached.

"Please ask, friend Han," Lan Yuanzi replied immediately.

"You and your sister came to the Golden Source Heavenly Domain to capture me, right?" Han Li asked, his face revealing a hint of coldness.

"We were ordered by the Miao Fa Heavenly Lord to capture you, friend Han, and to take a treasure from you that originally belonged to the Jiuyuan Observatory - a time treasure shaped like a small, dark green bottle," Lan Yuanzi replied without hesitation.

Han Li's heart skipped a beat when he heard this.

The Pantian Bottle had always been his deepest secret, unknown to outsiders except for a few close friends. Now, it seemed that this secret could no longer be hidden.

"How did the Jiuyuan Observatory know that the treasure was with me?" Han Li asked, his voice calm.

"I'm not entirely sure, but I heard it was inferred from a Causal Crystal, which was obtained from you, friend Han," Lan Yuanzi replied.

"Causal Crystal!" Han Li's eyes flashed, and he thought of the time crystal.

"Did the Golden Source Heavenly Palace send anyone else besides you two to capture me?" he asked.

"No, the Miao Fa Heavenly Lord only sent us two. We thought that our combined strength would be enough to defeat you, but it seems that your strength is far greater than we anticipated," Lan Yuanzi said with a bitter smile.

Han Li's heart relaxed slightly when he heard this, and he asked Lan Yuanzi a few more questions, which Lan Yuanzi answered honestly without hesitation.

After finishing his questions, Han Li stood silently, his eyes gazing into the distance, contemplating something.

Lan Yuanzi stood quietly beside him, not interrupting.

Han Li gazed into the distance for a moment, then suddenly raised his hand and pointed at Lan Yuanzi's forehead.

Lan Yuanzi's eyes widened in shock, but he was unable to react, and his eyes rolled back as he fell into a coma.

Han Li made a hand seal and pointed at Lan Yuanzi's brain, casting a sealing technique to restrict his divine sense.

"Qi Hun, was what this person just said true?" he asked, his eyes flashing with cold light. There was no deceit or concealment in his words, they were all true," said Ti Huang's voice in the void.

Han Li heard this and nodded slowly.

Although he had some appreciation for this Lan Yuanzi, if he had uttered even half a sentence of falsehood, he would have killed him without hesitation and searched his soul.

"Why bother asking him questions? It would be more convenient to just kill him and search his soul directly," Han Li said, his voice low.

Behind him, the void rippled, and a silver light gate appeared, with Ti Huang's figure emerging from it.

"That Lan Cai escaped, but it seems they have a deep relationship. Lan Cai might still come looking for him, and this Lan Yuanzi might still be useful," Han Li said, waving his hand to throw the unconscious Lan Yuanzi into the Flower Branch Space.

"That Lan Cai? They're not even a match for you, Master. Now that Lan Cai is alone, what's there to worry about? If she dares to come, it's even better, we can catch her in one net," Ti Huang said, waving his small fist nonchalantly.

"Don't be careless, I'm not worried about Lan Cai alone, but Qi Mozi is also in this immortal mansion, and they're both from the Heavenly Court. If they join forces, it'll be troublesome. Let's be cautious," Han Li said, shaking his head.

Ti Huang hesitated for a moment before nodding.

Han Li didn't continue to focus on the Lan siblings, instead looking around.

As he chased after Lan Yuanzi, he had arrived at the depths of the Red Sand Desert.

At this moment, the sand sea had changed, with towering sand dunes rising up like small mountains. The sand dunes were no longer barren, with red thorny vines growing on them.

In the depths of the sand dunes, there were also some sand lizards, sand scorpions, and other small creatures, but they were all ordinary living beings, not demonic beasts.

Ti Huang also looked around, his eyes suddenly widening as he let out a soft exclamation.

"What did you notice?" Han Li asked, his eyes lighting up.

Ti Huang's body was special, and his perspective on things was different from Han Li's. He often had unique discoveries.

"This place has a strong death aura, and the resentment is heavy. It seems this isn't a good place. Master, you need to be careful," Ti Huang said, his expression serious.

"I also sense that this place is dangerous. That stone stele at the entrance had a 'two' character written on it. Could this be the second layer of the Years Tower?" Han Li asked, his expression also serious.

"It's very likely. Although the Years Tower appears to be a single, rounded structure, it's actually divided into layers. I've observed that it has seven layers, and this seems to be the second layer. I wonder what that Taishang Xianzun built this tower for," Ti Huang said.

"Whatever the reason, let's investigate first," Han Li said, shaking his head. He waved his hand, and a blue light emerged, smoothing out the battle scars around them. Then, he chose a direction and flew off.

As for Ti Huang, he didn't let him return to the Flower Branch Space, instead bringing him along.

In the blink of an eye, half a day had passed.

The surroundings were still the same, with the endless red sand sea stretching out. This sand sea was enormous, and there was no sign of anything unusual.

Just as Han Li was starting to get confused, Ti Huang suddenly let out a soft exclamation and flew downwards.

Han Li's eyebrows twitched, and he followed after him. The two of them quickly landed in front of a sand dune.

Ti Huang waved his hand, and a black light emerged, splitting the sand dune in two.

A massive, gray-white skeleton was revealed, resembling a giant lizard's skeleton. It was covered in wind-eroded cracks, and it seemed like it could shatter at any moment.

"What's special about this skeleton?" Han Li asked, his divine sense having already detected the skeleton, but he hadn't noticed anything unusual.

"Master, how many years do you think this skeleton has been here?" Ti Huang asked, his pale fingers lightly touching the wind-eroded skeleton.

"This sand lizard is quite sturdy, and its skeleton is even more so. For it to erode to this state, it must have been here for at least a few hundred years. Why are you asking this?" Han Li replied, curious.

"This sand lizard died less than ten years ago," Ti Huang said, shaking his head.

"What? How do you know?" Han Li asked, his entire body trembling with surprise.

"Any living being has a soul, and when they die, their soul disperses, leaving behind some residual soul energy fragments on the corpse. These fragments take years to dissipate completely, allowing us to determine the time of death. This skeleton still has very dense residual soul energy fragments, indicating that it died less than ten years ago," Ti Huang explained.

"Amazing, I didn't know there was a way to determine the time of death like that," Han Li said, impressed.

Only someone with extremely strong divine sense could detect the residual soul energy fragments on a corpse, and even Han Li's powerful divine sense couldn't do it. It seemed that Ti Huang's divine sense was getting stronger and stronger.

"But if this sand lizard died less than ten years ago, why has its skeleton eroded to this state?" Han Li asked, his brow furrowed in concern.

“Then I don't know, I just think this skeleton is a bit strange, so I'll let Master take a look.” Qiuhun shook her head and said.

Han Li nodded, looking at the skeleton, and fell into a thoughtful silence.

At this moment, he suddenly turned his head and looked back.

“Su Zhongyan, Jing Liu, they're here, Qiuhun, hide in the flower branch space, don't let them discover you.” Han Li's eyes flashed, and he immediately waved his hand to open the entrance to the flower branch space.

Qiuhun responded with a sound, turned around and flew inside.

As for Han Li, he immediately rose into the air and flew in a certain direction.

A moment later, the horizon behind him revealed a series of colorful escape lights, their direction slightly deviating from Han Li's.

Han Li looked at the escape lights and immediately went to meet them.

The escape lights also immediately changed direction, flying towards him, and the two sides quickly met.

Han Li stopped in mid-air, and the escape lights landed nearby, their colors flashing before revealing Su Zhongyan, Jing Liu, and others, only thirty or forty people, fewer than before.

However, the likes of Fu Gu and other Taiyi realm existences were still present, but these people were almost all injured, looking quite disheveled.

Han Li's mind moved, and he immediately guessed some of their experiences.

"I remember you're the stone friend by Yu's side, you're actually still alive? How come you're the only one, what about the others?" Su Zhongyan looked at Han Li and asked.

"We encountered many metal beasts behind the Golden Gate, Yu and the others all died at the mouths of those metal beasts, I and a few other friends escaped by chance, but later got separated. Su friend, Jing friend, it's great to have met you." Han Li looked like he was still shaken.

The others, although they had some premonitions, heard this and still looked solemn.

"You're really lucky." Jing Liu saw Han Li's timid appearance and a hint of disdain flashed in his eyes, coldly mocking him.

"Friend, you're absolutely right, I'm lucky, otherwise I would have died at the mouths of those metal beasts too." Han Li seemed to not have noticed Jing Liu's mockery, and nodded in agreement.

Jing Liu was taken aback, glared at Han Li, and didn't continue with the mocking words, instead asking: "Shi Mu, your group entered the Golden Gate first, there should be some treasures inside, what kind of treasures were they? Who do they belong to now?"

As he spoke, a hot light flashed in his eyes.

"Ah, the Golden Gate was empty, there were no treasures. And as soon as we entered, we were attacked by metal beasts, we barely escaped, and didn't get anything." Han Li was taken aback, and immediately shook his head.

"Is that so?" Jing Liu's eyebrows rose, clearly doubting Han Li's words.

"Jing friend, we previously agreed that the treasures obtained inside the Golden Gate would belong to each individual, you're pressuring him, isn't that unfair?" Fu Gu suddenly spoke up.

"Fu Gu, don't misunderstand, Jing isn't trying to rob others of their treasures, I just want to make a deal with this stone friend, since there's nothing inside, then forget it." Jing Liu laughed.

"If you want to make a deal, let's talk about it after we leave this Years Tower. Stone friend, you arrived at the second layer before us, have you discovered anything?" Su Zhongyan looked at Jing Liu, then asked Han Li.

"Nothing, I've been wandering around here for half a day, and only found sand." Han Li shook his head.

"Since that's the case, let's continue to explore." Su Zhongyan furrowed her brows, then said.

The others didn't have any objections, and the group didn't linger, continuing to fly forward.

In the blink of an eye, half a day had passed.

The desert below finally showed some changes, with large stone blocks emerging, and a series of short mountains appeared in the distance.

As they flew forward, the more they went, the more of those strange, weathered skeletons appeared on the ground.

Han Li trailed behind the group, his eyes flashing, and his heart growing increasingly uneasy.

Su Zhongyan and the others also noticed the skeletons on the ground, but they thought they were just ordinary corpses, and didn't pay much attention.

As they flew, a loud rumbling sound came from the front, at first very faint, but after a few breaths, it became deafening.

"What's going on!"

Su Zhongyan and the others stopped in mid-air, their divine senses probing forward, and their faces turned pale.

Just now, they had sensed a massive, dark red cloud appearing in the distance, rapidly pressing down on them.

The dark red cloud was filled with countless, grain-sized, dark red insects, their bodies burning with tiny, red flames, densely packed, and unknown in number.

"This is the fire years cicada!" Han Li quickly recognized the true form of the red cloud, the same fire years cicada he had encountered in the True Speech Sect's forbidden land, and was greatly shocked. Han Li finally understood the origin of the skeletal remains, which were killed by the fire-age glowworms, explaining why the erosion was so severe.

Without hesitation, Han Li turned into a golden rainbow and flew away in the distance.

During the day at the True Speech Sect, Chi Rong released nearly ten thousand fire-age glowworms, which had already caused chaos among them. The number of glowworms present was unknown, but it was clear that they were vastly outnumbered.

Others, although unfamiliar with the fire-age glowworms, were shocked by the massive red cloud of worms and immediately turned to flee.

Among them was Jin Liu, who sneered at Han Li's cowardice, fleeing in the rear.

The fire-age glowworms seemed to sense the presence of Han Li and the others, emitting a deafening hum and excited chirping, like sharks smelling blood, as they chased after the group.

The worm cloud moved at an incredible speed, unaffected by the time restrictions of the area. Despite the group's full-speed retreat, they were slowly closing in.

The few scattered Golden Immortals flying in the rear were quickly caught up by the worm cloud.

"What kind of ghostly insects are these? I don't believe they're that powerful!" a red-faced man shouted, stopping in his tracks.

His body flashed with a crimson glow as he ignited a massive flame, covering a radius of several hundred meters, forming a sea of red golden fire.

A wave of intense heat emanated from the flames, causing the surrounding air to violently tremble, as if it were about to be ignited.

The red-faced man spat out a mouthful of fire, which expanded into a massive wave, engulfing thousands of fire-age glowworms.

The flames rolled, causing the engulfed worms to writhe and sizzle, while the surrounding worms were thrown into chaos.

The red-faced man's face lit up with a hint of joy, but it was short-lived, disappearing in an instant.

The worms, despite being engulfed by the flames, quickly regained their composure, spreading their wings and flying towards the red-faced man, unharmed.

The man's face contorted in shock and anger, shouting as he summoned a fiery red scroll, emitting a powerful flame aura.

He rapidly incanted a series of spells, imbuing the scroll with his energy.

The scroll burst into a brilliant flame, shielding the red-faced man's body.

The next moment, the worms swarmed, covering the man and the flame shield, forming a massive cocoon.

The worms then flew down, striking the flame shield, their dark red flames burning fiercely, merging with the shield.

The shield flashed brightly, then rapidly shrunk, disappearing in an instant, leaving behind the scroll, now worn and cracked, devoid of its former spiritual energy.

The worms then swarmed, covering the red-faced man, who was now helpless, his protective flames ineffective against the worms.

The man's face, once radiant, rapidly aged, his skin wrinkling, his hair turning white.

In an instant, the man transformed into a desiccated corpse, his clothes rotting, as he fell to the ground.

The worms lost interest in him, focusing on the others, who were soon caught up in the swarm.

The few remaining people were quickly overwhelmed, their screams silenced.

"Fire-age glowworms! I remember now, those worms possess time law, spewing out flames that burn the lifespan of other living beings! Wherever they pass, nothing remains, they're incredibly terrifying, and there are so many here!" Jin Liu exclaimed, his body trembling.

The others, hearing this, turned pale, each using their speed-boosting techniques, increasing their velocity by two or three times, fleeing forward, keeping pace with the swarm.

"Fire-age glowworms are extremely sensitive to blood and flesh auras, conceal your bodies and fly to the side, avoiding the swarm's front!" Su Zhenqi advised.

The others quickly hid their auras, flying to the left, trying to evade the swarm.

Han Li, hearing this, revealed a hint of surprise, immediately using the "Wan Kong Xu Ji" technique to conceal his aura.

The worms, momentarily confused, lost their sense of direction, failing to pursue Han Li and the others.

The group breathed a sigh of relief, but the memory of the red-faced man's fate kept them vigilant, continuing to flee with all their might.

After nearly half a day of fleeing, Su Zhongyan and the others finally managed to shake off the Fire Age Worms and reappeared near a small hill.

During this time, although Su Zhongyan had reminded them, most people had managed to conceal their auras, and there were no unexpected incidents. However, some people were still caught by the Fire Age Worms.

The others saw this and, even if they wanted to help, were unable to do so, and could only watch as those people were burned to ashes by the flames of the Fire Age Worms.

At this moment, although they had escaped the danger, many people still looked uneasy, with a lingering sense of fear.

Han Li found a secluded spot and sat down, taking a moment to catch his breath.

Su Zhongyan stood on a high ground, looking back at the distant horizon, where a massive dark red cloud of Fire Age Worms was slowly disappearing. Her expression finally relaxed slightly.

"I didn't expect there to be so many Fire Age Worms here," Fu Gu said, taking a deep breath. "Luckily, Su Xianzi understood the characteristics of these worms, otherwise we might not have been able to escape."

Su Zhongyan smiled faintly. "Fu Gu, you're being too polite. I only happened to read about these worms in some ancient texts."

"This tower is full of mysteries," Fu Gu sighed. "Who knows what other traps and mechanisms are waiting for us?"

Su Zhongyan suddenly looked at Han Li and asked, "Stone, you were the first to retreat when you saw the Fire Age Worms. Have you encountered them before?"

The others remembered this and turned to look at Han Li, their expressions filled with suspicion.

"Stone, why didn't you tell us about this?" Jing Liu asked, his voice cold. "Did you want to get us killed?"

The others' gazes turned unfriendly.

"No, no, I just encountered them before in another secret realm," Han Li hastily explained. "I recognized them because I had a bad experience with them."

Jing Liu snorted. "Is that so?"

Fu Gu intervened, saying, "Stone is skilled in escape techniques, and he was at the back of the group. When he saw the situation was bad, he naturally retreated faster."

Su Zhongyan looked at Han Li deeply, but then turned away, seemingly uninterested in pursuing the matter further.

Han Li didn't care about the others' opinions. He just smiled to himself.

Although this incident with the Fire Age Worms was a good opportunity for him to act alone, he didn't plan to do so yet. He still didn't understand the situation in the tower and wanted to continue observing the group for a while.

"Let's discuss what to do next," a hunchbacked old man said, his cultivation at the early stage of the Taiyi Realm. "Should we continue forward?"

After the intense battles, only a few Taiyi Realm cultivators remained in the group.

Originally, the Tian Shui Sect had four Taiyi Realm cultivators, but one had followed Han Li into the Golden Gate and died inside. Now, only three remained.

The other Taiyi Realm cultivators were the Qing Suo Sect's leader, the Mo Xiang Sect's leader, the hunchbacked old man, and a man with a thick beard, totaling seven people.

"This tower is full of mysteries," the Mo Xiang Sect's leader, Yan Yin, said, her expression uneasy. "We've been walking for a long time, and we haven't gained anything. We've only encountered danger and suffered heavy losses. I think it's unwise to continue advancing."

Many people nodded in agreement, including the hunchbacked old man.

"Su Xianzi, do you think we should retreat?" Yan Yin asked.

Su Zhongyan looked at Yan Yin and the hunchbacked old man. "Are you saying we should give up halfway?"

The hunchbacked old man shook his head. "Su Xianzi, we're not afraid. It's just that this tower is too dangerous. Those metal beasts almost wiped us out, and now we've encountered so many Fire Age Worms. Who knows what other dangers lie ahead?"

Su Zhongyan fell silent.

Jing Liu spoke up, "We can't give up now. This is the secret realm of the Tai Sui Immortal, and there must be treasures hidden within. We just need to be careful and avoid those Fire Age Worms. We can't let our fears hold us back."

The others looked at each other, seemingly hesitant.

Su Zhongyan added, "If we encounter those worms again, I might have a way to help everyone avoid them."

Yan Yin and the hunchbacked old man exchanged a glance, then nodded. "Alright, let's continue forward for a while and see what happens."

Jing Liu smiled. "Fate is often found in the midst of danger. This tower has been sealed for so long, I'm sure it won't disappoint us."

Su Zhongyan nodded. "Since everyone agrees, let's continue forward."

The group quickly set off again, flying towards the unknown.

Han Li didn't have any objections. If the majority of the group had decided to retreat, he would have considered acting alone. He patted his buttocks and stood up, continuing to float at the end of the entire team, neither too close nor too far away.

Most of the people present snickered at Han Li's behavior, but no one said anything, and almost everyone had made a mental note that even if they gained something good in the tower, they would not easily benefit Han Li.

The journey that followed was more cautious, and the team's speed slowed down significantly.

The team had been moving forward for less than half an hour when Han Li's eyes flickered, and he glanced to the right front without saying a word.

Just then, Su Zhan Ci, who was at the front of the team, suddenly stopped and said, "Be careful, another fire age glowworm has appeared! Follow me!"

She quickly turned around and flew towards the left front of the ground.

Han Li was slightly surprised that Su Zhan Ci could also detect the glowworms in advance.

It seemed that her divine sense was not much weaker than his own.

The others quickly followed, using their techniques to hide their physical auras and followed Su Zhan Ci.

The team quickly landed on the ground and hid behind a small hill.

Su Zhan Ci raised her hand and released a small yellow flag from her sleeve, which turned into a large patch of yellow mist, enveloping the team.

The yellow mist fluctuated and quickly disappeared into thin air.

Just as the team had hidden, a buzzing sound came from the sky again, and a large red glowworm cloud appeared in the distance, flying quickly towards them.

The team held their breath, hiding behind the hill, and fortunately, Su Zhan Ci's magical artifact was effective, and the glowworms did not discover them.

The team let out a sigh of relief and waited for the glowworms to fly away before continuing on their journey.

Han Li looked at the glowworms in the distance and had a slight reaction.

This time, the glowworms seemed to be patrolling.

After confirming that the glowworms had left, the team quickly set off again.

The journey continued, and the team encountered several more groups of fire age glowworms, but they were all detected in advance and avoided.

After advancing for more than half a day, the terrain changed again, and a range of continuous red mountains appeared.

The mountains were densely packed, with countless volcanoes, some towering high into the sky, while others were only a few dozen feet tall.

Most of the volcanoes were still active, with loud rumbling sounds and continuous eruptions of hot lava.

The sky was filled with a thick layer of black-red fire clouds, and the air was filled with the pungent smell of sulfur. The temperature was even more scorching than before, and the fire attribute energy in the air was extremely dense.

The team's spirits were shaken, and they quickly accelerated, flying into the mountains.

"Ah! This is the Golden Flame Sacred Stone!" a loose cultivator exclaimed, flying down to a nearby volcano and using a large red hand to grab a golden stone from the wall, which flashed with flame-like golden light.

"Xuan Yan Ling Yu!" another person exclaimed, finding a red spirit jade.

"Long Yan Cao!"

"Tian Huo Jing!"

...

The team discovered various precious fire-attribute materials in the volcanic region, and they quickly began to collect them.

Han Li was not particularly interested in these materials, but he also collected a few.

After a round of searching, the team had a small harvest, and their confidence increased. Under Su Zhan Ci's leadership, they continued to venture deeper into the volcanic region.

"Be careful, another fire age glowworm has appeared!" Su Zhan Ci suddenly warned again.

The team was no longer as panicked as before, and under Su Zhan Ci's arrangement, they gathered together in an orderly manner, hiding their tracks.

Before long, a massive red glowworm cloud appeared in the distance, its scale more than ten times larger than the previous ones. It was like a dark cloud covering the sky, blocking out the sun.

The team's faces turned pale, and they were shocked, even though they were under Su Zhan Ci's magical artifact's protection.

The swarm of insects flew swiftly towards them, but suddenly stopped and began to circle around when they were above Su Zhongxi and the others. The crowd's hearts were filled with shock, and even Han Li's brow furrowed in concern.

Fortunately, the swarm split apart after a short while, breaking into smaller groups that flew off in different directions. Some of the fireflies flew into the volcanic lava, and they seemed to be enjoying themselves, chirping happily as they disappeared into the distance.

The crowd breathed a sigh of relief.

"It seems that the source of those fireflies is deep within the volcanic region," Su Zhongxi said. "It's no wonder, considering their bodies contain the flames of time, which are a type of fire-attribute spirit insect. They seem to thrive in this scorching environment."

"Let's go take a look," Su Zhongxi said, leading the way.

The others followed, with Mo Xiang Louzhu's brow furrowed in concern. They flew for about half an hour before arriving at a massive mountain range, with two gigantic peaks that seemed to pierce the clouds. The valley between the peaks was filled with a swarm of fireflies, blocking out the sun.

The swarm they had encountered earlier was nothing compared to this. The stone walls of the peaks had numerous small holes, like a beehive, with countless fireflies flying in and out. The peaks seemed to be two giant beehives.

In the depths of the valley, there was a black cave that seemed to be bottomless. The cave was filled with a strange energy, similar to a seal, that prevented spiritual awareness from penetrating too deeply. However, they could still sense the strong time laws emanating from within, along with spatial fluctuations.

The group hid behind a small hill, using their abilities to conceal their tracks.

"It seems that the cave contains a treasure that holds the power of time laws," Su Zhongxi said, her eyes shining with excitement. "There are quite a few of them, and it's not a wasted trip. The spatial fluctuations within the cave are similar to the spatial gates we encountered earlier, so the entrance to the third layer must be inside."

Han Li's eyes gleamed with excitement as he gazed at the valley.

Although his cultivation was high, he lacked sufficient time law crystals within his body. If he could obtain some treasures that held the power of time, it would be extremely beneficial to him.

However, Mo Xiang Louzhu and the others seemed to be hesitant, their faces pale.

"Don't worry, Mo Xiang Louzhu, I have a way to deal with these fireflies," Su Zhongxi said, noticing their concern.

Mo Xiang Louzhu shook his head firmly. "Su Daozhu, you and your friends are skilled and bold, but my Mo Xiang Lou is just a small sect with limited abilities. This is too dangerous for us. I'm afraid we cannot accompany you further."

The group decided to leave, with Mo Xiang Louzhu and the others choosing to search for treasures in the volcanic region instead of risking their lives to explore the cave.

Su Zhongxi and Jin Liu's faces fell, and they were about to speak when the old man with the hunched back suddenly said, "I also don't have the confidence to break through this place. I'll bid you farewell, and I wish you good luck."

The others followed his lead, and soon over twenty people stood beside Mo Xiang Louzhu and the old man.

Only a dozen people remained, including Han Li, the three from the Tian Shui Sect, the master of the Qing Suo Valley, the burly man, and a few other lone cultivators.

"Ha! I didn't expect that you, who are considered to be prominent figures in the outside world, would retreat at the first sign of difficulty," Jin Liu sneered.

Mo Xiang Louzhu and the others didn't respond, instead choosing to leave. Han Li watched them with a cold gaze.

Although Mo Xiang Louzhu and the others seemed timid, they were actually being cautious. The number of fireflies was staggering, and the risk of breaking through was too great. If Han Li didn't have the time law crystals within his body, he wouldn't have chosen to take this risk either.

"Wait, please don't leave," Su Zhongxi said, standing in front of them with a blue glow surrounding her.

Mo Xiang Louzhu's face darkened. "What do you mean, Su Daozhu? Are you trying to detain us?"

The others also looked displeased.

"I apologize if I've caused any misunderstanding," Su Zhongxi said calmly. "I won't stop you from leaving, but I have a favor to ask of you before you go." "What's the matter, Su Xianzi, please tell us," Mo Xiang Louzhu asked, his expression slightly relaxed.

"As you said, Louzhu, there are many fire years of fireflies here, and it's very difficult to sneak into the mountain cave. So, I'd like to ask you all to help us divert the fireflies when you leave," Su Xianzi said with a faint smile.

"Let us show ourselves to divert the fireflies? This is no different from playing with fire, Su Xianzi, are you joking?" the hunchbacked old man sneered.

"Don't worry, I have a few flying shadow symbols here that can increase your speed by at least 30% for a short time and help conceal your aura, so you can definitely escape the fireflies' pursuit," Su Xianzi said, flipping out five blue talismans with intricate wind and cloud patterns, emitting a strong wind attribute law fluctuation.

The hunchbacked old man raised an eyebrow, but didn't say anything, still standing there.

"Of course, I won't let you do this for nothing. These few magical instruments are my treasured possessions, and whoever is willing to help can choose one," Su Xianzi said, waving her hand again, and five or six magical instruments, including a jade ruler and a water-attribute bowl, appeared in front of her, emitting strong law fluctuations, clearly of high quality.

"Since Su Xianzi is so sincere, we naturally want to help. What do you need us to do?" the hunchbacked old man asked, his eyes flashing with a hint of joy, as he took a water-blue bowl and a flying shadow symbol.

Mo Xiang Louzhu and the others also showed some interest.

"I have five blood cloud beads here, which can explode and create a large amount of blood cloud. Fireflies are sensitive to blood energy, so if we explode them one after another, we should be able to attract most of the fireflies in the valley. I need five fellow daoists to help me," Su Xianzi said, waving her hand, and five egg-sized blood-colored beads appeared in her palm, emitting a bright blood light.

Han Li looked at the blood-colored beads, and his eyes flashed with interest.

The beads contained a very rich blood energy, and a hint of blood law, which was a kind of blood lightning.

"Su Xianzi has thought this through, and these blood cloud beads are indeed the best way to attract the fireflies. I'll take care of this, don't worry," the hunchbacked old man said, taking a blood cloud bead and patting his chest, his attitude completely opposite to his previous cold demeanor.

Seeing the hunchbacked old man's sudden change in attitude, the others felt a bit disdainful.

Mo Xiang Louzhu hesitated for a moment, then stepped forward and took a blood cloud bead, a magical instrument, and a flying shadow symbol.

Three other scattered golden immortals, who thought they were fast enough, stepped forward and each took a blood cloud bead, a magical instrument, and a flying shadow symbol.

Except for the hunchbacked old man and the other four, the others who were planning to leave immediately flew away, disappearing into the distance.

"Then, I'll trouble the five of you," Su Xianzi said, after the others had left.

"Don't worry, Su fellow daoist, I'll take care of it," the hunchbacked old man said, flying out first, heading towards the distant mountain valley.

A few breaths later, a loud muffled sound came from the mountain valley, followed by a large amount of sticky blood cloud, which spread out like a sea wave.

The fireflies in the valley immediately became chaotic, spewing out flames of years, and the blood cloud disappeared in a few breaths.

The hunchbacked old man's figure appeared near the mountain valley, and then turned into a bright escape light, with a layer of special green light on top, flying rapidly towards the distance.

The insect swarm near the mountain valley let out a shrill cry, and a large group of fireflies chased after him, making up about 10% of the total swarm.

In the distance, behind the short mountain, Su Xianzi's face showed a hint of joy, and she immediately looked at the other four.

Mo Xiang Louzhu didn't say anything, and flew out, releasing a layer of spiritual light that wrapped around his body, concealing his aura, and approached the mountain valley from another direction.

Then, he released a blood cloud bead, attracting the attention of many fireflies, and immediately revealed his figure, escaping rapidly.

A large group of fireflies chased after him, similar in number to the hunchbacked old man's.

"Quick! Next one!" Su Xianzi urged.

The five people's plan to attract the fireflies had to be fast, or else the swarm would return and cause trouble.

"Take care, everyone!"

A scattered golden immortal flew out, releasing a blood cloud bead, and attracting a group of fireflies, before escaping rapidly.

The remaining two also followed the same plan, using blood cloud beads to attract a group of fireflies.

At this point, the swarm in the mountain valley had decreased significantly, leaving only less than half.

"Now, let's go!"

Su Xianzi shouted, and took out the yellow small flag, waving it once, and turning it into a yellow cloud that enveloped the group of over ten people, including Han Li, and flew rapidly towards the mountain valley.

In an instant, they merged into the ground, and flew underground, approaching the mountain valley.

After a few breaths, the group arrived at the front of the valley and stopped.

Below the valley, there were also many fireflies nesting, even more than on the ground, making it difficult to approach.

"I'm grateful that you all chose to stay, but I can only help you this far. The road ahead, you'll have to rely on yourselves," Su Zhan Cai said, retrieving the yellow small banner.

The others, having chosen to stay, naturally had their own methods and didn't rely on the Tian Shui Sect's intentions, nodding in agreement.

"I wish you all good luck."

Su Zhan Cai, as the leader of the Tian Shui Sect's three, began to chant a spell, and their bodies flashed with blue light, transforming into three water-blue light shadows that flew out of the ground and shot towards the valley.

Qing Suo Valley Master flipped his hand and stuck a green talisman on his body, then chanted a spell, and the talisman immediately merged into his body.

Numerous green talismans appeared around him, and his body became semi-transparent, then flew out, closely following the Tian Shui Sect's three.

The burly man's body flashed with yellow light, and a thick layer of earth-yellow stone armor covered his entire body.

As the armor appeared, the man seemed to have truly transformed into a stone statue, without any signs of life.

He didn't fly out of the ground, instead continuing to hide underground, using a divine ability similar to earth evasion, advancing towards the valley.

The remaining seven or eight scattered Golden Immortals seemed to be a familiar small group, and they stood in a circle, with a young man with golden hair waving his hand.

A golden light flew out of his hand, transforming into a golden wooden tablet.

The tablet was over ten feet in size, with a golden beast's head pattern engraved on it, emitting a bright golden light, and within the light, a time law fluctuation rippled.

The seven or eight scattered Golden Immortals placed their hands on the golden tablet, and the tablet's golden light immediately intensified, enveloping the scattered Golden Immortals.

However, the golden tablet quickly rotated, and the giant tablet, along with the scattered Golden Immortals, suddenly disappeared into the void, then transformed into a golden shadow, flying towards the valley's depths.

"This is... the Bao Yang Divine Wood!" Han Li exclaimed, his eyes flashing with surprise.

The Bao Yang Divine Wood was a type of divine wood that contained time law power, and its quantity was extremely rare, unexpected to be encountered here.

Han Li didn't continue to linger, and a golden light flashed on his body, transforming into a faint golden shadow, following the scattered Golden Immortals.

As the group flew out of the ground, although they each used their divine abilities to conceal their aura, the valley's fireflies were too numerous, and it was impossible to avoid them entirely.

The fireflies immediately grabbed onto the group's transformed lights, shadows, and other objects, and simultaneously let out a chorus of chirping sounds.

With a loud "boom", the other fireflies flew out, raining down on the group like raindrops.

These fireflies were truly formidable, and no matter what secret techniques Han Li and the others used, or what forms they transformed into, they were all tightly grabbed by the fireflies, quickly forming a dark red insect ball around each person, rolling and biting, and spewing out flames of time.

Han Li's transformed golden shadow was also grabbed by the numerous insects, and the flames of time rained down on him, his body's protective light circle rapidly weakening.

He immediately raised his hands, and a golden lightning light burst forth from his palms, shooting out golden lightning arcs that formed a thick golden lightning net around him.

A powerful lightning law fluctuation rippled within the net, and the surrounding void trembled.

However, under the fireflies' flames of time, the powerful lightning law fluctuations had no effect, and the golden lightning net rapidly dissipated.

Han Li's face sank, and he raised his hands again.

Two thick golden lightning bolts shot out of his palms, merging into the golden lightning net, which immediately brightened, restoring its original thickness.

Han Li continued to release golden lightning from his palms, maintaining the net, and simultaneously released a time law fluctuation mixed within.

With the time law fluctuation's assistance, the golden lightning net's dissipation speed slowed, barely resisting the flames of time's erosion.

Han Li let out a sigh of relief, not trying to shake off the fireflies, but instead, directly carrying the surrounding insects, he flew towards the valley's depths.

The others did the same, carrying the large insect balls, flying towards the valley's depths, and soon arrived at the front of the black cave.

In a short distance, the insect balls around them had accumulated to over ten feet in size, and under their influence, their speed was greatly reduced.

And within the insect balls, numerous flames of time shot out from all directions, more intense than before, almost forming a sea of flames, engulfing the group and burning fiercely.

Han Li and the others used all their strength to defend against the flames of time, and their internal immortal energy surged out, soon exhausting over half of their energy, but they had already reached the cave's entrance.

Han Li let out a low shout, and his hands flashed with golden lightning, suddenly producing four golden lightning dragons that flashed with dazzling lightning light.

Each dragon was not too large, but emitted a powerful lightning law fluctuation, far surpassing the golden lightning net, and wherever they passed, the void shattered.

Besides the lightning law fluctuation, he also mixed in time law power, just like before.

The four dragons shot out, striking the insect balls around them.

The dragons' "boom" shook the air, and the insect balls... The scorching golden lightning burst forth, and the surrounding insect balls were torn apart in an instant.

Han Li's figure moved like lightning, and with a "whoosh," he shot out from the scattered insect swarm and entered the black cave.

The walls of the cave also had countless small holes, and although many fireflies flew out of them, they continued to pounce on him.

However, the number of fireflies in the cave was much fewer than outside, and Han Li easily fended them off with a wave of his hand, his body once again covered in a layer of golden lightning net.

Han Li had previously used the "Myriad Silence Technique" and the Time Law to isolate his aura, so the fireflies that attacked him were the fewest, and he was the first to enter the black cave.

However, he did not proceed alone, and instead stopped to look back outside.

A burst of extremely cold air exploded from outside the cave, and the insect balls surrounding the three people from the Tian Shui Sect were frozen into blue ice crystals, which then shattered and fell to the ground.

The blue ice crystals emitted an astonishing cold air and law fluctuations, clearly a special kind of cold ice divine ability, and the fireflies' flames on their bodies were also frozen in place.

However, the fireflies did not die, and the flames on their bodies fluctuated, causing the blue ice crystals to slowly melt.

But the blue ice crystal divine ability was not small, and it would not be completely melted for a while.

The three people from the Tian Shui Sect took advantage of the opportunity to fly out and enter the cave, but they did not immediately proceed deeper, and instead stopped.

"Stone friend, how did you...?" Su Zhongzi saw Han Li already inside the cave, and her face showed surprise.

Jin Liu and another elegant young man also looked surprised.

The fireflies that were originally in the cave sensed Su Zhongzi's aura and flew towards her.

The three of them did not have time to care about Han Li, and they quickly used their abilities to defend themselves.

At the same time, about a hundred meters in front of the cave, another insect ball suddenly expanded and burst open, and a rapidly rotating green dragon vortex column appeared, sweeping away the surrounding fireflies and preventing them from approaching.

The green vortex column seemed to come alive, and it inserted itself into the black cave.

"Whoosh!"

Fu Gu Zhu flew out of the vortex column, and in an instant, he also entered the cave, followed by another insect ball that burst open, revealing a blinding golden light that shot into the cave.

Seven or eight scattered Golden Immortals appeared, their faces pale and their aura weak.

These Golden Immortals had just entered the cave when the entrance was suddenly frozen shut with a thick layer of blue ice crystals.

Su Zhongzi withdrew her hand, and a blue ice sphere the size of a fist hovered above her head, emitting a fierce cold air and law fluctuations.

The fireflies outside saw that everyone had entered the cave, and they suddenly became enraged, emitting high-pitched screams and spewing out flames that attacked the blue ice crystals.

More and more fireflies flew in, forming a dark red rainbow that crashed into the blue ice crystals.

The blue ice crystals shook violently, melting rapidly, and cracks appeared on their surface, as if they were about to collapse.

Su Zhongzi's face changed, and she bit her lip, using her divine ability to send the blue ice sphere flying into the blue ice crystals.

The blue ice crystals immediately emitted a brilliant blue light, and the cracks on their surface began to heal, emitting a cold air that was ten times stronger, and stabilizing the situation.

However, the flames' erosion of the blue ice crystals continued, and they melted rapidly.

Su Zhongzi's eyebrows furrowed, but she had no solution.

At this moment, a figure appeared, and Han Li's shadow loomed before the blue ice crystals, his hand pressed against them.

A dazzling golden light burst forth from his palm, merging with the blue ice crystals.

The blue ice crystals' surface immediately emitted a golden glow, and the rate at which they melted slowed down.

"Time Law power!" Su Zhongzi exclaimed, looking at Han Li in surprise.

The others also looked at Han Li with incredulous gazes.

Han Li's expression remained calm, but he secretly sighed.

He didn't want to reveal his true strength, but the situation was critical, and he couldn't afford to hesitate, or he would also be in trouble.

As for how he possessed the Time Law power, and how he was the first to enter the cave, he naturally wouldn't explain, and let them continue to guess.

At this moment, the ground suddenly flashed yellow, and a yellow figure emerged from the ground with a loud whoosh. It was the burly man with the beard.

His stone armor was now riddled with holes, but he was unharmed, only panting heavily, clearly having had a difficult time navigating the underground tunnels.

"This place is not suitable for a long stay, the ice wall I and Shi Dao set up to block the fire sprites outside won't last long, let's head deeper!" Su Zi gave Han Li a deep look before turning to head into the cave.

The others quickly followed, with Han Li close behind, his eyes fixed on the outside. A strange glint flickered in his eyes.

The sudden agitation of the fire sprites outside was certainly due to some reason, but Han Li's knowledge of them was limited, and he couldn't guess what it was.

The cave was filled with a strange restrictive power that limited the spread of divine sense, and the darkness made it impossible to see very far.

However, the fire sprite army outside could catch up at any moment, so the group didn't dare to linger, moving forward in silence, with Su Zi and Han Li leading the way, casting spells to defend against the small groups of fire sprites that appeared from time to time.

Fortunately, as they went deeper, the number of bug holes on the walls decreased, and the fire sprites became fewer, making it easier for the group to proceed.

After a while, they arrived at a massive cavern.

The fire sprites that had been chasing them stopped at the entrance, circling around but not daring to enter.

Seeing this, the group was initially shocked, then let out a collective sigh of relief.

Han Li glanced at the fire sprites outside, then quickly looked around the cavern.

The cavern was enormous, with an area of several thousand zhang. Half of it was a lake of red-hot magma, with bubbles of fiery red liquid constantly rising and falling, filling the air with a terrifying heat.

The magma emitted a fierce red glow, illuminating the entire cavern.

Above the lake, a red platform connected to another passageway, which was also pitch black, with faint dark red glows emanating from within.

The other half of the cavern was empty, with a series of sharp red stone pillars rising from the ground, like a forest of stone.

The group's eyes scanned the cavern, then simultaneously fixed on the stone pillars.

Because on the three largest pillars, three massive dark red beehives hung, each emitting a fiery glow, and a powerful time law fluctuation.

These three time law fluctuations were enormous, but not concentrated, instead scattered and chaotic, filling the cavern.

The red flames in the magma lake fluctuated with the time law fluctuations, rising and falling in a rhythmic pattern, causing the air to vibrate with a humming sound.

Han Li gazed at the three beehives from a distance, his pupils constricting.

If he wasn't mistaken, these three beehives were the birthplace of the fire sprites outside, and the reason they didn't dare approach was likely due to some sort of rule or restriction, treating this place as a sacred site.

This "sacred site" seemed peaceful, but was certainly not without defenses.

Moreover, the time law fluctuations emanating from the three beehives, combined with their long dormancy, had transformed them into a rare and precious time spirit object.

As Han Li observed the beehives, Su Zi, Jin Liu, and the others were also cautiously observing the surroundings, their eyes filled with a mix of greed and caution.

But there was no lack of people who were eager to take risks for treasure.

Three figures suddenly flew out, each targeting one of the beehives.

One was a gray-haired youth, another a black-robed woman, both from the scattered cultivator group, and the third was the burly man with the beard.

"Lu brother, Qi Dao friend, don't be rash!" The blond youth from the scattered cultivator group shouted, but it was too late.

The gray-haired youth and the black-robed woman had already flown to the beehives, each emitting a beam of light that enveloped the beehive, lifting it up.

The burly man with the beard also flew to the third beehive, landing about ten zhang away, his foot stomping on the ground.

The ground around the beehive flashed yellow, and a massive stone figure emerged, several zhang tall, its stone hand grasping the beehive and pulling it up.

Unexpectedly, the three beehives were lifted with ease, without any difficulty.

The three individuals were initially stunned, then overjoyed, their hands forming seals as they prepared to retrieve the beehives.

But just as they did, a sudden change occurred!

The dark red glow on the beehives suddenly intensified, and the time law fluctuations that had been scattered throughout the cavern suddenly converged on the beehives.

In an instant, a dark red vortex appeared around the beehives, enveloping the three individuals.

The three individuals were clearly prepared, but their movements slowed down, as if trapped in a swamp, their actions slowed by more than tenfold. At this moment, the three people in the dark red light vortex seemed to be moving in slow motion, giving off an inexplicable sense of eeriness.

Just then, a flash of light appeared on the stone wall above, outlining a shape the size of a millstone.

Han Li's heart skipped a beat as he saw this, and Su Cai and the others also gasped in unison.

The object, which was the size of a millstone, was a giant firefly, its body structure and outer appearance similar to that of the fireflies outside, except for a flame-shaped pattern on its shell.

The firefly had blended into the surroundings so seamlessly that no one, including Han Li, had noticed it.

The giant firefly's mouth opened, and three streaks of red fire shot out, leaving behind a trail of residual images as they struck the three people with incredible speed.

The gray-haired youth and the black-robed woman were too slow to react, and their bodies were pierced by the red fire, turning them into two human torches that were engulfed in flames.

Their bodies melted away in an instant, leaving behind only ashes.

The burly man's strength was superior to that of the gray-haired youth, and he managed to conjure up a small spiritual domain, barely avoiding the flames that were rushing towards him.

However, the red fire was too fast, and he was unable to dodge it completely, his left arm being pierced by the flames.

A ball of red fire appeared on his arm, burning fiercely, and his arm was reduced to ashes.

The red flames continued to spread, threatening to engulf his entire body.

The burly man's face turned pale, and he retreated, his other hand forming a knife-like shape as he slashed at his shoulder.

But he was still within the dark red light vortex, and his movements were slowed down, making him a step too slow.

Just then, a golden sword shadow flashed towards him, striking his shoulder and severing his left arm.

The arm was immediately engulfed by the red flames, reducing it to ashes.

Han Li, who was hundreds of feet away, silently retracted his finger.

The burly man let out a sigh of relief, and his body glowed with a yellow light as he retreated, his speed increasing rapidly as he flew out of the dark red light vortex.

He turned to Han Li and nodded in gratitude before taking out a yellow and red pill and swallowing it.

In an instant, his severed arm began to heal, and a new arm grew out.

The giant firefly turned towards Han Li, its mouth opening in anger, and it fell from the ceiling, landing on the stone head that the burly man had summoned.

Its claws flashed with red light, and it swiped at the stone head, releasing a half-moon-shaped blade of light that was imbued with the power of time.

The stone head was easily sliced into several pieces, and its body crumbled, turning into a pile of rubble.

The three people who had been attacked earlier were now dead, and the giant firefly's gaze turned towards Han Li and the others.

Su Cai's eyes narrowed as she said, "This should be the Firefly King, capable of manipulating time itself, its power is unimaginably greater than that of ordinary fireflies!"

The Firefly King turned towards Su Cai, its eyes flashing with anger, and it transformed into a red shadow, charging towards her with incredible speed.

It swiped at Su Cai with its claws, releasing two half-moon-shaped blades of light that shot towards her and Han Li.

The blades were incredibly fast, and they appeared in front of the two in an instant.

Han Li's body flickered, and he disappeared from his original position, reappearing hundreds of feet away, leaving the Firefly King stunned.

Su Cai's cultivation was high, but she didn't have Han Li's speed, and she was forced to retreat, her footwork swift as she created some distance between herself and the Firefly King.

She raised her hand, and a blue water light appeared in front of her, transforming into a blue vortex that rotated rapidly, creating a whirlpool that affected the surrounding air.

The red blade of light struck the blue vortex, but it was only slowed down for a moment before breaking through, slicing through the vortex and continuing towards Su Cai.

However, the blade was also deflected by the vortex, and it grazed Su Cai's body, striking the ground and creating a black hole.

The others who had been watching the scene unfold turned pale, and they scattered in all directions, trying to get away from the Firefly King.

"We must work together and not give it any chance to breathe!" Su Cai's forehead was slick with sweat as she shouted.

The others, who were all highly skilled cultivators, knew that they had to act quickly, and they launched a barrage of attacks at the Firefly King.

(Translator's note: The author has apologized for the delay in uploading the chapter, and has promised to upload two chapters at once tonight.)

At this moment, Han Li also brought out twelve blue flying knives, which transformed into twelve giant knife auras in mid-air, emitting a strong yin-killer aura.

The air where the flying knives passed through was filled with a layer of frost, and a heart-piercing whistling sound was heard, slashing towards the Fire Age Worm King.

These twelve blue evil flying knives were found in Dongfang Bai's storage artifact, with extraordinary power, and Han Li had been refining them for years, incorporating them into his body.

The Fire Age Worm King's eyes flashed with a hint of ridicule, and the red flames on its body flashed, and a large piece of red flames shot out from its body, which was the flames of the ages. With a flick, a red fire sea formed around its body in an instant.

As everyone saw this scene, their faces changed, and they pinched their fingers to retrieve their artifacts, but it was too late.

The colorful artifacts slashed into the red fire sea, and they disappeared like a mud cow entering the sea, without any unusual movements.

The next moment, the connection between the people and the artifacts was severed, and their faces changed.

Su Zhongxi and Jin Liu looked at each other, and both saw the color of retreat in each other's eyes.

Although the three beehives were extremely valuable, they were useless to their own cultivation, and even if they were obtained, they would be sold to others to exchange for a large amount of resources and wealth.

It was not a wise move to fight to the death with the extremely powerful Fire Age Worm King for this, even if they could win, they would have to pay a huge price, and may even lose their lives.

The others thought the same, and only Han Li and the loose cultivator with the golden hair, who held the Bao Yang Shen Mu tablet, seemed to have a hint of determination in their expressions.

Just as they were about to make a move, the red fire sea suddenly churned violently, and quickly shrunk into a house-sized red fireball, which shot out like a meteor.

Han Li saw this scene, and his eyes flashed with understanding, but he did nothing.

The others were stunned, and some didn't understand.

The people in front of the fireball quickly dodged, and the red fireball flashed and fell on the entrance of the tunnel above the lava.

"No! It's going to seal the tunnel!" Su Zhongxi's face changed, and she cried out in surprise.

Before she finished speaking, the red fireball flashed and turned into a red fire curtain, sealing the tunnel entrance.

Although there was another tunnel behind the cave, it was also a dead end, as countless Fire Age fireflies were flying inside.

The Fire Age Worm King's eyes flickered, and it seemed to be looking at everyone with a hint of mockery, like a cat playing with a mouse.

The people present changed their faces, and some of the timid ones turned pale.

"Humph! You think you can trap us here? Let's see if you have the ability! We have so many people, are we afraid of this insignificant worm?" Lian Dahan shouted, his body glowing with yellow light, and then he stomped his foot heavily.

A yellow spirit domain burst out from his body, covering the entire cave space.

A huge gravitational force emanated from the spirit domain, pulling towards the Fire Age Worm King, and the worm king's body immediately sank, its claws curved downwards.

"Not bad, with so many people, the law of superposition, we don't believe we can't kill this time worm king!" Jin Liu also shouted.

As he spoke, his body glowed with blue light, and he opened a blue spirit domain, covering the Fire Age Worm King.

The flames of the ages around the Fire Age Worm King's body immediately fluctuated, and it seemed that Jin Liu's spirit domain had an effect on it.

The others saw this scene, and their spirits were shocked, and they each deployed their spirit domains.

In an instant, more than a dozen spirit domains covered the Fire Age fireflies.

The Fire Age fireflies' eyes, which had been filled with mockery, had disappeared, replaced by a fierce light.

The red flames on its body flashed, and it shot out like a red shadow, pouncing on Lian Dahan.

With the influence of so many spirit domains, the Fire Age fireflies' speed, although still extremely fast, had slowed down compared to before, and no longer had that kind of ghostly might.

"Sand cage!" Lian Dahan quickly retreated, and at the same time, he grasped at the air with both hands.

The ground in the cave suddenly cracked, and countless stones and gravel flew out, rapidly entwining the Fire Age fireflies, forming a sand cage that trapped it.

Almost at the same time, in a series of sharp whistling sounds, several artifacts flew out, passing through the gaps in the sand cage, and hitting the Fire Age fireflies.

"Clang" "Clang" several crisp sounds, several artifacts were bounced back, and the Fire Age worm king's body didn't leave any marks, shocking everyone again.

Just as they were about to make a move, a blue light flashed, and a blue paper crane the size of a person's head appeared in front of the sand cage, its beak piercing through the cage, and striking the Fire Age worm king's body.

In the distance, Su Zhongxi muttered to herself, her hands forming a strange hand seal, and several blue paper cranes flew out, circling around her.

With a "puff" sound, a blood hole was immediately pecked out on the Fire Age worm king's body, and red blood gushed out.

The Fire Age worm king let out a furious scream, its eyes glowing with blood-red light, and its body also grew larger.

It swung its claws, and several half-moon-shaped lights shot out, larger than before, slashing in all directions. The sand and dust around him seemed to shatter like tofu, easily broken.

The Fire Age Worm King immediately broke free, its dual wings spread wide, and in an instant, it transformed into a bloody, residual shadow, its speed faster than before, as if the surrounding spiritual realm's influence on it had suddenly disappeared. It shot towards Su Zhuo like lightning.

Su Zhuo's face changed, and she hastily retreated, simultaneously releasing the blue paper cranes around her, which transformed into blue shadows, pouncing on the Fire Age Worm King.

Although the blue paper cranes were fast, they were still far slower than the Fire Age Worm King. The worm king's body flashed, easily dodging the paper cranes, and with one swift motion, it appeared in front of Su Zhuo, its two front claws about to strike.

In that instant, the air beside the Fire Age Worm King rippled, and a golden fist shadow appeared, striking it with the force of a meteor.

The Fire Age Worm King's body was instantly knocked flying, rolling and tumbling forward.

Not far away, Han Li silently retracted his fist.

"Thanks!" Su Zhuo's face was pale, and she sent a voice transmission to Han Li, thanking him. Then, she hastily retreated, recalling the blue paper cranes, which circled around her.

The Fire Age Worm King stabilized its body, its body flashing with blood light. It glared at Han Li with extreme anger, its dual wings spread wide, and its body transformed into a bloody shadow, flying towards him.

Han Li didn't use his spiritual realm, nor did he dodge or retreat. His body surface erupted with dense, mysterious, and uncountable golden lights, and his fists shone with golden light, ready to face the worm king.

But at that moment, the Fire Age Worm King let out an angry, sharp cry, and its direction suddenly changed, flying towards the three beehives.

Two cultivators, taking advantage of the Fire Age Worm King being entangled by Han Li and the others, sneaked to the beehives, trying to collect them. They were the young man with the golden hair, holding the Bao Yang Divine Wood Stele, and another loose cultivator, a Golden Immortal.

Seeing the Fire Age Worm King flying towards them, the two cultivators' faces changed, and they hastily retreated.

But the Fire Age Worm King seemed to have been thoroughly enraged by the two cultivators' actions, its entire body's armor instantly turning blood red, and the flames of time on its body also turning blood red.

Its speed increased once again, and with one swift motion, it flew between the two cultivators, its two front claws flashing.

Two blood-red lights flashed, and the other loose cultivator, the Golden Immortal, was cut in half from head to toe, his divine soul and nascent soul unable to escape.

The young man with the golden hair used the Bao Yang Divine Wood Stele to block the attack, but the stele was cut in half with a "pu" sound.

The young man's heart ached, but he took advantage of the brief moment to retreat, avoiding being cut in half. However, his chest was still struck by the residual force, and a large wound appeared, with blood gushing out. His retreating figure stumbled.

The Fire Age Worm King spat out a blood-red flame, taking advantage of the momentary delay to pierce the young man's chest.

The young man's body "exploded" with a loud sound, immediately transforming into a blood-red fireball, burning fiercely, and turning into ashes in an instant.

Just as the Fire Age Worm King killed the young man and the other cultivator, a dazzling blue light suddenly appeared in the air above, taking advantage of the momentary delay to descend, enveloping the Fire Age Worm King.

Three thick, blue chains extended from the blue light, binding the Fire Age Worm King.

The three chains, although blue, emitted different laws of power, yet they complemented each other seamlessly. Even the Fire Age Worm King's abilities couldn't break free from the chains.

In the distance, the three people from the Tian Shui Sect stood in a triangular formation, forming a three-attribute formation. They simultaneously chanted, remotely controlling the three blue chains.

The Fire Age Worm King let out an angry, sharp cry, its body's flames of time burning fiercely, intensely striking the chains.

The chains quickly showed signs of burning, but the surrounding blue spiritual realm flashed, and a surge of laws of power transmitted from within, causing the chains to rapidly recover, maintaining a balance with the flames of time.

"Quickly kill it, we can't hold on for much longer!" Su Zhuo and the others, although they had suppressed the Fire Age Worm King, were trembling with exhaustion, their hands quivering as they spoke.

The others, hearing this, hastily took out various attacks, launching a barrage of strikes at the Fire Age Worm King.

The Fire Age Worm King's eyes flashed with a hint of panic, its body's flames of time burning fiercely, enveloping its entire body. At the same time, it let out a sharp cry.

The Fire Age Worms outside the cave seemed to have received an order, flying towards the cave.

But at that moment, a figure appeared at the entrance of the cave, Han Li's silhouette emerging. He waved his hands.

A blue light shot out from his hands, but it was a blue jade plate, rapidly expanding, transforming into a blue stone door, blocking the entrance.

This was a divine artifact refined from the Kunlan Crystal Jade, obtained from the storage artifact of the East White. Its quality was extraordinary.

The Fire Age Worms outside crashed into the blue stone door, causing it to vibrate intensely.

Han Li's expression turned solemn, and he pressed his hands on the stone door, causing a layer of golden light to appear.

However, even so, the blue stone door still vibrated intensely, and the Fire Age Worms' impact was like a tidal wave, crashing against the door. If Han Li's hands relaxed even slightly, the door would immediately show signs of being shaken open.

A figure flew in, landing beside Han Li, and it was Fu Gu Zhu, who placed his hands on the stone door and said to Han Li, "Leave this to me, Stone Brother, you go help Su Xianzi and the others."

"That's fine, I'll leave it to you, Fu Gu Zhu," Han Li replied.

Han Li glanced at Fu Gu Zhu, then turned and flew towards the Flame Age Worm King.

The battle against the Flame Age Worm King was not going well, as the attacks from Lian Dui Da Han and the others were almost all blocked by the Flame Age Worm King's Age Flames.

Han Li's body flashed, and he appeared above the Flame Age Worm King, his hand forming a seal as he prepared to do something.

"Stone Brother, I'll help you!" Lian Dui Da Han shouted, also flying towards the Worm King.

"Don't come over!" Han Li shouted, but it was too late.

The Flame Age Worm King's body erupted in a burst of flames, which formed a blazing sun that shot out countless flames that enveloped Han Li and Lian Dui Da Han.

Lian Dui Da Han tried to retreat, but it was too late, and his body was pierced by the flames, turning into a ball of fire.

Han Li's eyes flashed with a cold light, and his body glowed with a golden light, his speed suddenly increasing several times over, and his body undergoing an impossible twisting and deformation, as if it was not a physical body at all. He dodged the flames and appeared in front of the Flame Age Worm King.

The Flame Age Worm King's eyes widened in surprise, and it tried to do something, but its brain suddenly felt a sharp pain, and its body curled up.

At this moment, a golden light appeared in Han Li's hand, and it was a golden sword with Time Law crystals wrapped around it, emitting a powerful Time Law energy.

The nearby heaven and earth energy trembled, and a golden thread shot out, instantly tearing apart the Flame Age Worm King's Age Flames and sweeping across its neck.

The Flame Age Worm King's head fell off with a "plop" sound.

Jin Liu's face relaxed, and he immediately stopped his Three Cauldron Formation, then flew out and shot towards the three beehives on the ground.

Han Li's heart also relaxed, and he put away the golden sword, but seeing Jin Liu's actions, he also flew towards the beehives.

He appeared in front of one of the beehives, waved his hand, and a golden light enveloped it, collecting it.

Jin Liu also flew to another beehive and collected one.

Then, the two of them simultaneously flew towards the third beehive, but they hesitated, fearing they might damage it.

"Stone Brother, you've already collected one beehive, do you still want the second one? Isn't that too greedy?" Jin Liu said, his eyes flashing with cold light.

"I'll say the same to you, Jin Liu. You didn't contribute much to the battle, but you want to monopolize two beehives. Isn't that too shameless?" Han Li replied, his face expressionless.

"If not for our Tian Shui Sect's secret technique, which restrained the Flame Age Worm King, could you have killed it? I'm collecting the second beehive for Su Dao, with her contributions, it's not a problem for her to have one," Jin Liu said, his face red with anger.

"Then let Su Dao come and collect it herself. Who knows what you'll do with it afterwards?" Han Li said, not giving Jin Liu any face.

"You're talking nonsense! You're not giving me any face!" Jin Liu's face turned red with rage.

"Jin Liu, let Stone Brother have the beehive," Su Zhuo Xian's voice came from afar.

She appeared at the entrance of the stone door, waving her hand and sending out a blue light that merged with Han Li's blue stone door, firmly attaching it to the entrance and blocking the outside insect swarm.

"Su Dao, what are you saying? This is...?" Jin Liu's eyebrows were tightly furrowed, and he was very dissatisfied.

"In this battle, Stone Brother made great contributions, and it's only natural that he should have two beehives. Moreover, he just saved my life, so I'm just returning the favor," Su Zhuo Xian continued.

Han Li heard this and raised an eyebrow, looking at Su Zhuo Xian in surprise.

"Fine, you've got it!" Jin Liu's face changed, and he angrily retracted his hand.

Han Li didn't hesitate, waving his hand and collecting the third beehive, then flying to the entrance of the cave, where he formed a seal with his hands.

A golden light entered the blue stone door, forming a thick golden light screen, which had a seal pattern that emitted a powerful Time Law energy. With Su Zhuo Xian's secret technique, the stone door was stabilized and no longer trembled.

"Let's go!" Su Zhuo Xian said, looking at Han Li and flying towards the lava lake's passageway.

Without the Flame Age Worm King's blessing, the passageway's flame barrier disappeared, and Su Zhuo Xian flew into it.

The others also flew into the passageway.

Su Zhuo Xian waited until everyone had entered, then turned around and waved her hand.

A blue light shot out from her palm, forming a thick blue ice crystal that blocked the passageway's entrance.

The others saw this and also cast their secret techniques or used their magical tools, adding several layers of restrictions to the passageway, sealing it tightly before continuing on. The passageway was not long, and the group soon arrived at the end.

At the end of the passageway was a small stone chamber, and in the center stood a dark red light gate, identical to the transmission light gate they had seen before.

Next to the light gate was a stone stele, with a line of ancient text written on it.

"Prison Gate" "Forbidden Entry"

Han Li and the others saw the text on the stele, and their faces changed. They looked at each other.

"Prison Gate? Could it be that this Years Tower is actually a prison tower?" Fu Gu Zhu said, muttering to himself.

"If that's the case, the metal beasts on the first floor and the fire years worm on the second floor were actually the guards? Now that I think about it, it's not impossible." Han Li said, deep in thought.

He had seen the fire years worm earlier, and it had looked like a patrolling army. If it was said that the Years Immortal had set up the guards, many things would make sense.

"Rather than guessing here, let's just go to the third floor and take a look. We'll know everything then." Su Zhen Cai said.

The others heard her words, and their eyes all turned to the dark red light gate.

The gate was surrounded by a layer of dark red evil light, and it looked no different from an ordinary barrier. However, on the surface, there were ripples of golden light.

Han Li's eyes fell on the light gate, and his eyebrows furrowed slightly. He felt a strange and inexplicable feeling, and the light gate barrier in front of him seemed unusual.

Jin Liu's eyes also fell on the light gate, but he seemed to have not noticed anything unusual. He was about to start breaking the seal.

Han Li opened his mouth, wanting to stop him, but he thought better of it.

"Stone friend, what's wrong?" Fu Gu Zhu seemed to have noticed Han Li's abnormal behavior, and he asked in a low voice.

"I don't know, I just feel a chill down my spine... " Han Li didn't want to explain, so he just brushed it off.

When the others heard this, their faces all changed, and they became tense. Even Jin Liu stopped in his tracks, turned around, and looked at Han Li.

Han Li's face was expressionless, and he didn't react.

"Fake!"

Jin Liu cursed in a low voice, and then turned back to the stone gate. He hesitated for a moment before starting to break the seal.

Not long after, a red light flashed on the stone gate, and the golden ripples on the light gate disappeared.

"It's done, the seal is open. You can all go in now." Jin Liu said, glancing at Fu Gu Zhu and the others.

But these people just looked at each other, and no one took a step forward.

"Have you all come this far, only to retreat now? Fu Gu Zhu, why don't you set an example?" Jin Liu asked.

Fu Gu Zhu heard his words, and his face tightened. He didn't immediately respond.

Su Zhen Cai coldly laughed, and without Jin Liu's permission, she took the lead and stepped into the light gate.

Jin Liu didn't have time to react, and he quickly followed her in. The others looked at Fu Gu Zhu.

Fu Gu Zhu's face changed several times, and finally, he clapped his hands and said, "Wealth and honor are found in danger. Let's go."

After saying that, he took the lead and stepped through the light gate, disappearing into the stone gate.

Han Li didn't wait long, and he followed closely behind, stepping into the light gate. His figure disappeared from view.

As soon as he entered the light gate, Han Li felt a wave of dizziness, and his heart tightened. Fortunately, there was nothing else unusual, and when he regained his footing, he found himself in a vast, black stone-paved square.

The square was filled with leaden clouds, and the wind howled. The sky was dark, and the air was filled with a putrid and evil aura.

Han Li saw that the others who had entered before him were all standing still, their eyebrows furrowed as they looked at something behind him. Their faces changed, and their eyebrows twisted.

"Indeed... " Han Li slowly turned around, and sighed.

Behind him stood a massive stone gate, over a hundred feet tall. The gate pillars were carved with two golden armored warriors, holding axes and glaring angrily. The gate was covered in intricate, strange symbols.

"What is this? Why are there so many complex seals?" Su Zhen Cai asked, her face full of doubt.

"This stone gate has thirty-six different types of symbols, and seventy-two lines of text. It seems to match the number of heavenly stems and earthly branches, used to enhance the sealing and suppression power." Jin Liu said, his brow furrowed.

"The seal we encountered when we entered was not this strict. Why is the seal for leaving so complex? Is it trying to trap us inside?" Fu Gu Zhu asked, shocked.

Han Li looked far into the distance, and said, "The seal on this stone gate is not meant to block us, but perhaps something else."

Fu Gu Zhu followed Han Li's gaze, and in the distance, he saw a black building, surrounded by black mist. It was hard to make out.

...

Hehe, who knows, our arrival here is a blessing or a curse!" Jin Liu said with a self-deprecating smile.

"Whether it's good or bad, this place seems to have a stronger suppressive force on one's spiritual sense as we ascend, making it quite uncomfortable." Fu Gu Zhu said with a furrowed brow.

"Let's go. We can't turn back now, since we've arrived, let's explore the tower together and see what's at the top, it's not a waste of a trip." Su Xian Ci said calmly.

With that, she led the way forward, Jin Liu followed closely behind, his eyes slightly sunken.

Fu Gu Zhu and the others looked at each other with complex expressions, gazing at the massive stone gate behind them, seemingly still hesitant.

"The seal on this stone gate is no weaker than a large sect's protective array, breaking it won't be easy, let's find another way out." Han Li said as he walked past Fu Gu Zhu, reminding him.

As he spoke, he also hurried towards the black building.

Fu Gu Zhu and the others saw this and changed their expressions, hesitating for a moment before following him.

As they walked, the air grew thick with an eerie, malevolent energy, and the temperature dropped, causing the noses and mouths of the Golden Immortal cultivators to emit wisps of white mist.

When they arrived at the black building, they found it was an ancient, overgrown temple.

The temple's entrance was in disrepair, with weeds growing in the cracks between the bricks, and the wooden doors were covered in moss, with rusty door rings hanging crookedly.

Han Li stood outside the entrance, gazing up at the sign above the door, murmuring, "Eighteen Layers..."

The others looked at the sign and their faces turned strange.

"How can it be eighteen layers? We just entered the third layer, how did we get here?" Fu Gu Zhu asked in surprise.

"Don't be alarmed, perhaps it's just the name of the temple, 'Eighteen Layers'." Jin Liu said dismissively.

"This place is eerie and foreboding, I think we shouldn't go in." A Golden Immortal cultivator said fearfully.

Just then, the creaking sound of the temple doors opening echoed through the air, and the doors swung open by themselves.

The group waited for a moment, seeing no movement inside, they looked at each other in confusion.

Jin Liu and Su Xian Ci exchanged a glance, nodded, and led the way inside.

Han Li raised an eyebrow, feeling a sense of curiosity, and followed them in.

Fu Gu Zhu and the others hesitated, but eventually followed, their hearts heavy with foreboding.

As they entered the temple, the doors creaked shut behind them, and two green ghostly flames emerged from the darkness, floating before them like lanterns, guiding them deeper into the temple.

The group was shocked by this eerie scene, and after a moment of hesitation, they followed the ghostly flames, venturing deeper into the temple.

Beyond the entrance lay a small, white plaza, which Han Li found was not paved with white stone, but rather with broken, white bones, the ground uneven and emitting faint, creaking sounds.

As they walked, the group arrived at the Heavenly King's Hall.

Inside, two massive, dozens of feet tall statues of the Heavenly Kings stood, their faces twisted into malevolent grins, their hands grasping a demonic mallet and a bloody human head.

The group passed through the hall and entered a larger plaza, where nine high platforms stood on either side, with figures looming in the shadows, and the sound of mournful wails echoed through the air.

Han Li's brow furrowed as he gazed up at the first platform, where a green-skinned demon was using a black iron pincer to extract the tongue of an elderly woman, her face contorted in agony.

On the opposite platform, a beautiful woman was bound to a stone bed, her body exposed, as two green-haired demons used giant scissors to cut at her flesh, her cries echoing through the air.

Han Li's gaze swept across the platforms, each one displaying a different, gruesome scene.

On one platform, a massive stone mill was being pushed by a powerful demon, grinding human limbs and bones, the victim's head still intact, screaming in agony. In another place, a giant iron cauldron was set up, with flames swirling beneath it, and boiling oil inside. Several evil spirits were seen carrying a terrified person, who was about to be thrown into the cauldron, causing a massive explosion of black smoke and a foul stench.

Han Li's eyebrows furrowed tightly as he finally understood why this place was called the "Eighteen Layers".

In the mortal realm and the spiritual realm, there were rumors that the Underworld had eighteen layers of purgatory. Han Li had heard many stories about it since he was young, so seeing this scene before him didn't feel strange, but rather more puzzling.

"What kind of place is this?" Fu Gu Zhu asked with a serious expression, his voice loud and questioning.

As soon as his words fell, a red light appeared in the high sky in front of the square, and ten figures slowly descended from the air.

Han Li took a closer look and saw that they were ten ghostly figures wearing crimson official robes, with golden jade belts around their waists. Those ghostly figures were born with different features, some with cow heads, some with horse faces, and some with monkey-like features... each one was terrifying and strange, without any human form, except for one who had a pale face and no beard, with a red flower on his chest, looking like a scholar who had just passed the imperial examination.

"You dare to pretend to be gods and demons, and deceive people with your tricks?" Jing Liu's eyes turned cold, and he shouted angrily.

"You dare to not kneel down and confess your crimes when you see the Ten Judges of the Underworld?" The pale-faced man with the red flower on his chest pointed at the crowd, scolding.

His voice was sharp and thin, and with his somewhat feminine movements, he broke the image of a scholar, looking more like a eunuch.

"Ten lowly ghost generals dare to call themselves the Judges of the Underworld? Laughable!" Su Zhen Cai sneered, saying.

"Today, you have entered the Eighteen Layers of Purgatory, and you will be sentenced to the punishment of no reincarnation. Do not think of escaping!" The pale-faced ghost general shouted, flying up into the air.

The other nine ghost generals followed him, their crimson robes fluttering without wind, making a loud "whooshing" sound.

As they rose into the air, the surrounding area was filled with wailing winds, and a large amount of dark mist burst forth from the ground, with countless evil spirits wielding white bone swords, rushing towards the center of the square.

Due to the sheer number of evil spirits, they were already crowded together, colliding with each other, trampling and pushing, their wailing and screaming voices shaking the heavens.

"This... how can there be so many ghostly creatures?" Fu Gu Zhu frowned.

"They are just ordinary yin creatures, and can be easily defeated. Do not panic, and do not disrupt the formation. First, let us clear away these miscellaneous soldiers, and then we will deal with the ten ghost generals above." Jing Liu's expression remained calm, and he said loudly.

As he spoke, he waved his hand, and a Linglong Pagoda appeared in the air, emitting a silver light.

Han Li took a closer look and saw that the pagoda was surrounded by a spatial aura, and he thought to himself:

"A spatial treasure... it's not bad, but the quality is not high."

Just then, the doors of the pagoda opened, and over a dozen figures flew out, their bodies rotating as they landed, and they turned out to be over a dozen elders of the Tian Shui Sect.

Among them was the leader, a Tai Yi initial-stage cultivator, and the rest were mostly Golden Immortal late-stage and Golden Immortal peak-stage cultivators.

"Ru Qiu Elder, there are many ghost generals here, and we need your help." Jing Liu bowed to the group, saying.

"No need to be polite, we volunteered to enter the Shedding Body Pagoda, in order to assist you at the critical moment, so there is no need to be polite." The leader, a white-haired and thin elder, waved his hand, saying.

Fu Gu Zhu and the others saw this, and their hearts slightly calmed down. They held their magical tools, preparing to defend themselves.

After that, Jing Liu and Su Zhen Cai exchanged a glance, and led the dozen Tian Shui Sect elders to fly up and attack the ghost generals who claimed to be the Ten Judges of the Underworld.

"Friends, these yin creatures are not powerful, but there are too many of them. If we split up and fight, we will eventually exhaust ourselves. Why don't we work together to set up the Qinglong Hunyuan Formation, and perhaps we can hold on until the Tian Shui Sect wins?" Fu Gu Zhu said, his expression serious.

"This Qinglong Hunyuan Formation is a secret array of the Qing Su Valley, and we are not familiar with it, so how can we set it up together?" A Golden Immortal loose cultivator looked worried, asking.

"The key to setting up this formation is a treasure, and you only need to follow my instructions to do it. The formation is very simple." Fu Gu Zhu said, and then quickly transmitted the method of setting up the Qinglong Hunyuan Formation to the group through voice transmission.

Immediately after, he raised his hand, and a dragon-shaped jade pendant flew out, saying:

"Set up the formation!"

As soon as his words fell, the group immediately acted, following his instructions to set up the formation. They surrounded a circle, stepped on the footwork, and chanted incantations.

Han Li, however, did not move, standing still beside the group.

As the evil spirits rushed towards them like a tide, the group did not have time to care about him, but they all had a bit of resentment in their hearts.

The group continued to set up the formation, and the sound of their incantations grew louder.

As the ghostly creatures approached within a hundred feet of the group, a loud dragon's roar suddenly resounded, and a layer of blue light burst forth from their bodies, expanding outward.

The blue light on the surface of the light curtain flowed and swirled, forming a series of blue dragon silhouettes that twisted and turned, flowing and changing without cease. Within the light curtain, a burst of auspicious and precious light shot upward, piercing through the dark clouds.

The ghostly creatures that collided with the blue light curtain let out a series of heart-wrenching cries.

The light curtain's blue light flickered rapidly, and the evil spirits that collided with it were like snow meeting the scorching sun, emitting a series of "hiss" sounds as they dissipated into nothingness, leaving behind only a trail of dark smoke.

However, the evil spirits that were trapped here had not tasted the flesh of the living for who knows how many years, and had long since lost all sense of reason, madly rushing forward without any regard for life or death. Even as they were continuously dissipated, they still continued to press forward, wave after wave.

Han Li's gaze swept around him, his expression unchanging as he beheld the endless tide of ghostly creatures.

"What are you doing? If you're not going to contribute, then don't expect us to help you!" Jing Liu shouted in anger.

Han Li ignored Jing Liu's words, standing upright and motionless at the center of the group, neither lending his assistance to the formation nor engaging in combat. Instead, he gazed upward, his eyes fixed intently on the dark, foreboding sky, lost in thought.

In the high air, the cultivators of the Tian Shui Sect were also engaged in a fierce battle with the ten red-robed ghostly generals.

These ghostly generals were different from the countless ghostly creatures below, each one possessing an astonishing level of cultivation, with most of them rivaling the peak of the Golden Immortal realm. Their cultivation methods were mysterious and unpredictable, and their techniques were endless.

The ghostly general who appeared to be a scholar possessed the highest level of cultivation, rivaling that of a mid-stage Tai Yi cultivator. His crimson official robes were the most sinister, with two wide sleeves that seemed to be like the vast expanse of the universe.

As he swept his left sleeve downward, a torrent of dark energy burst forth, enveloping Su Zhongling's head.

Su Zhongling's hand already grasped a water fan surrounded by a blue glow, and as she waved it back and forth, the fan's surface emitted a burst of light that tore through the void, creating a massive gash that stretched across the sky.

At the same time, the nine-bend river diagram on the water fan's surface flashed with light, and then disappeared.

The sound of rushing water filled the air as a massive river burst forth from the gash, surging upward and crashing against the scholar.

The scholar's face revealed a mocking smile as his sleeves fluttered, and a massive black whirlpool formed, swallowing the river water.

The river water seemed to be endless, and the scholar's sleeves were like a bottomless abyss, absorbing the water without any limit.

After the river water was absorbed into the scholar's left sleeve, a loud rumbling sound echoed, and his right sleeve shook, releasing a torrent of murky water that crashed against Su Zhongling.

However, the water that flowed from the scholar's right sleeve was now turbid, filled with floating corpses and blood.

Su Zhongling's expression changed as she beheld the scene, and with a flick of her wrist, the water fan's surface flashed with light, sealing the gash in the void and absorbing the scholar's counterattack.

A moment later, the river water dissipated, and the gash in the void closed, disappearing from sight.

On the surface of Su Zhongling's water fan, the blue light reappeared, and the nine-bend river diagram reformed, but the river water was now murky and impure.

At the same time, the fan's surface was shrouded in a faint, black mist that seemed to be difficult to dispel.

Su Zhongling's expression changed slightly as she beheld the scene, and with a flick of her wrist, the fan's surface emitted a burst of cold energy, sealing the river diagram in a layer of white light, as if it had been frozen in ice.

"You have a decent treasure, I'll take it for myself," the scholar said with a sinister laugh. "In the future, I'll cast ten million yin souls into that river, and refine it into a river of the underworld. As for you, little girl, you'll make a good concubine for me..."

Su Zhongling's eyes narrowed, and a cold, fierce light flashed within them. With a flick of her wrist, a wave of water flowed from her palm, coalescing into a clear, blue longsword.

"I'll fulfill your wish, and trap you beneath the ice of my fan, where you'll be unable to escape for eternity," she said, her voice cold and menacing. With a sudden burst of speed, she charged toward the scholar, engaging him in close combat.

The scholar laughed wildly, his sleeves fluttering as he welcomed the attack, and the two of them clashed in a fierce battle.

On the other side, Jing Liu wielded a pair of dragon-headed spears, engaging in a fierce battle with two of the red-robed ghostly generals.

One of the generals had the body of a human and the head of a cow, wielding a blood-red banner that seemed to be able to control the spirits of the dead. The other general had the body of a human and the face of a horse, wielding a set of black chains that seemed to be able to corrode the flesh and bones of his enemies.

The two ghostly generals were both at the early stage of the Tai Yi realm, and were extremely difficult to deal with. Jing Liu was able to barely suppress them, but was unable to gain the upper hand.

As for Han Li, he stood at the center of the group, his expression uncertain. Although the current war situation is still unclear, he knew that if it dragged on, it would inevitably lead to a situation where one side would weaken and the other would gain the upper hand, making things increasingly unfavorable for them.

Moreover, from the moment he entered this place, he had sensed that in the dark clouds above, a pair of eyes seemed to be watching their every move.

The ten red-robed ghost generals in front of him, who claimed to be the Ten Yama Kings, were not the strongest existence in this space. The truly terrifying being, who was hiding in the dark clouds above, had not yet appeared.

Since he didn't make a move, Han Li didn't intend to make the first move either. He was just being cautious and observing the situation.

But just then, a loud "rumbling" sound came from the Tianwang Temple on the other side of the mountain, causing the entire earth to shake violently.

Han Li concentrated his gaze in that direction and saw that the roof of the Tianwang Temple had been blown open, and the two giant statues of the Heavenly Kings inside had come to life. They were tearing open the walls and taking large strides towards them.

"Boom", "boom", "boom"

The two Heavenly King statues, with their armor broken and worn, were marching towards them, carrying two human head statues in their hands. They were thrown like sandbags, flying towards the Qīnglóng Huì Yuán Array.

Two blood-red human head statues flew through the air, hitting the Qīnglóng Huì Yuán Array with a force that shook the entire formation.

The people maintaining the array suddenly felt a heavy pressure, and their bodies shook. They spat out a mouthful of blood.

As they were injured, the array they were maintaining began to destabilize, and the Qīnglóng Huì Yuán Array's cyan light began to fade. The surrounding yīn qi ghosts grew more frenzied and charged forward.

In an instant, the Qīnglóng Huì Yuán Array was shrouded in black smoke, and countless yīn qi ghosts were dissolving. The array's cyan light was disappearing, and it seemed like it was about to collapse.

Han Li saw that the two Heavenly King statues were approaching, their feet trampling on the yīn qi ghosts. The demon-subduing mallet in their hands was raised high, as if ready to be thrown.

If the Qīnglóng Huì Yuán Array suffered another blow, not only would the array be unable to hold, but the people maintaining it would also be affected by the array's backlash, resulting in heavy casualties.

"Fine, since you won't make a move, I'll force you to," Han Li thought to himself, his single arm rising. He swung his hand, and a burst of breaking wind sound came from the void.

Eighteen cyan-colored light beams flashed and flew out of the light curtain, scattering and falling to the ground around the array.

"Clang, clang, clang..."

As the sound of sharp metal echoed, eighteen cyan-colored bamboo swords fell to the ground, embedding themselves into the earth around the array's perimeter, surrounding the entire formation and the people within.

"This is...?" Fù Gǔ Zhǔ's eyes widened in surprise as he turned to look at Han Li.

The others, seeing the swords fall to the ground, were even more perplexed.

The yīn qi ghosts didn't care about these developments and continued to charge at the array. Soon, they had engulfed all the cyan-colored bamboo swords, and the array's spiritual energy seemed to have been depleted. Although it could still block the ghosts, it couldn't eliminate them like before.

The dense yīn qi ghosts continued to climb higher, eventually covering the entire cyan-colored light curtain.

The two Heavenly King statues stopped their actions, not throwing the demon-subduing mallet again.

"They're finished..." Sū Zhū Xiǎo's expression changed, and she sighed.

"Don't worry about them for now. Let's focus on dealing with the current situation..." Jìng Liú's face was stern, and he shouted.

Before he finished speaking, a sudden change occurred on the square.

"Boom, boom, boom"

A loud thunderclap sounded, and eighteen golden lightning pillars, as thick as pillars, burst forth from the ground, shooting straight up into the sky.

A blinding golden light enveloped the area, and a torrent of electricity surged forward, sweeping across the square in all directions. The entire area was bathed in a golden hue, making it impossible to look directly at it.

A loud "hiss" sound filled the air.

As the golden lightning passed through, a large number of black smoke clouds rose, and countless yīn qi ghosts were swept away, disappearing into the air.

"This is... the Demon-Expelling Divine Lightning!" Sū Zhū Xiǎo's eyes widened in surprise as she exclaimed.

Han Li's eyes narrowed, and he thought to himself, "It seems that the true master of this place has finally made a move."

The yin ghosts that had previously been fearless and unyielding in the face of the Qinglong Hunyuan Array, now felt an instinctual fear as the rolling thunder of the Bixie Shen Lei struck them. They scattered in disarray, fleeing in all directions.

However, the speed of the golden lightning was too fast, and in just a few flashes, nearly half of the yin ghosts were consumed and incinerated in a burst of crackling energy.

The few people who had been surrounded by the ghosts earlier were now able to see the light of day once more. They were overjoyed and excited.

In particular, Fu Gu Zhu, who had been watching Han Li's figure, was shocked and delighted. He couldn't help but wonder if this Stone Dao friend was a Taiyi cultivator?

Jin Liu and Su Qianqian exchanged a glance, and both saw a hint of shock in each other's eyes.

Han Li's gaze remained fixed on the high sky, his attention still focused on the lead-colored clouds that had been accumulating above.

But now, no one dared to show disrespect towards him.

Su Qianqian followed Han Li's gaze and noticed the lead-colored clouds. She looked puzzled and wanted to say something, but suddenly her eyebrows furrowed, and she shouted loudly to Han Li, "Stone Dao friend, be careful!"

As soon as she spoke, a strong gust of wind rushed towards them.

Han Li's eyebrows furrowed, and he saw a massive demon-slaying mallet flying towards him from the front, about to strike him down.

The mallet was covered in yin energy and emitted a rolling black smoke, with a cluster of dark purple phosphorus fire at its tip.

Han Li stomped his feet on the ground, showing no intention of dodging the incoming mallet. Instead, he charged forward, meeting the mallet head-on.

His speed was extremely fast, and in an instant, he reached the mallet.

But instead of trying to deflect the mallet with force, he sidestepped and directly wrapped his hands around the falling mallet, twisting his waist to change its direction.

The seemingly unstoppable mallet was suddenly reversed, and Han Li used his hands to send it flying back towards the Tianwang statue.

The Tianwang statue saw this and quickly swung its fist to block the mallet.

Han Li didn't stop, and instead, he activated the Tianxia Town Prison Gong, using his powerful energy to blast the mallet forward.

The mallet shattered the Tianwang statue's fist, sending shards of stone flying everywhere, and then pierced through its chest, causing another explosion. A burst of starlight shot out from the statue's broken body, reducing it to dust.

Another Tianwang statue arrived, swinging its mallet towards Han Li, but he easily dodged it.

Han Li's feet lightly touched the mallet, and he used the momentum to flash past the Tianwang statue's arm, quickly reaching its shoulder.

He grasped the edge of the Tianwang statue's helmet and swung himself to its chest, punching its face with a loud "Bam!"

The statue's evil face was shattered, and its mud-plastered fragments fell off, revealing a massive empty cavity. Inside, a dense and intense yin energy was condensing, with two points of ghostly fire flickering.

Han Li's mouth curled into a smile, and he reached into the cavity, pulling out the hidden ghost creature.

He dragged the creature to the top of the statue and looked up at the sky, laughing loudly, "You're quite patient, aren't you?"

As he spoke, he spread his fingers, and a burst of golden electricity shot out, incinerating the ghost creature.

The dark clouds in the sky remained motionless, but the ten red-robed ghost generals looked at each other, their expressions changing. Some of them were enraged, and they seemed to be preparing to pursue Han Li.

However, the Tian Shui sect's disciples were able to hold them back, preventing them from escaping.

"Since you're not willing to show yourself, I'll have to force you," Han Li said, his eyes cold.

As he spoke, he grasped a sword gesture, and his hand shot out, summoning the eighteen bamboo swords that were stuck in the ground. They trembled and flew back to Han Li, hovering around him.

The swords were surrounded by a faint glow, and more swords began to appear, totaling thirty-six swords.

The flying swords hummed, their surfaces crackling with electricity, as they prepared to strike.

"Go!" Han Li's hands changed the spell incantation, and he let out a loud roar.

The 36 bamboo sword spirits received the command, and immediately emitted a joyful sword hum, wrapped in a blue light, and flew towards the dark clouds in the sky.

Under the sky, the flying swords stirred up a brilliant sword light, and outside the main sword bodies, countless faint blue sword lights were stirred up, gathering together to form a majestic blue sword dragon that pierced the leaden clouds.

"Ahh..."

A clear and melodious dragon's roar seemed to echo, and the blue sword dragon plunged into the dense cloud sea, disappearing without a trace.

After a moment of silence, a thunderous roar shook the heavens.

"Rumble, rumble..."

A dazzling golden light burst out from the cloud sea, and countless golden lightning bolts scattered and rushed about, forming massive golden lightning whips that swept across the surroundings, striking relentlessly.

The dark creatures on the square looked up at the sky, their faces filled with terror, and let out a chorus of wails.

The ten red-robed ghost generals were also pale with fear, their faces revealing a mixture of shock and awe.

The Exorcism God Thunder's natural dominance over these dark creatures was evident in this moment.

Su Zhongyan looked at Han Li's figure, a hint of surprise flashing in her eyes, while Jing Liu's face changed from shock to amazement, seemingly astonished by Han Li's sudden display of power.

They had thought that this "Stone Daoist" was at most a gold immortal with a decent survival skill, but now it seemed that his power was far beyond that of a ordinary Taiyi realm jade immortal.

Han Li gazed up at the sky, his brow furrowed, and his eyes no longer held the previous carefree expression.

"Hehehe..." A strange, teeth-grinding laugh echoed from the leaden clouds.

The countless ghosts heard the sound and became restless.

"Welcome, Wusuo Ghost King..." the red-robed ghost generals shouted in unison.

Su Zhongyan and Jing Liu heard the name and their faces changed suddenly, exclaiming in unison, "How can it be him?"

The others, including the people from the Tian Shui Sect, were equally perplexed, having never heard of such a ghost in the Jin Yuan Immortal Realm.

"How can it be him? He shouldn't be here, shouldn't he be in the Heavenly Prison?" Han Li was equally puzzled.

He wasn't entirely unfamiliar with the name Wusuo Ghost King, as he had collected information about the prisoners in the Heavenly Prison through the Wheel of Reincarnation Hall, including some of the most notorious ones.

Wusuo Ghost King was one of them.

At this moment, the dense leaden clouds in the sky began to churn and boil, then rapidly condensed into a black fog.

Han Li's eyes narrowed, gazing at the fog, but it was too dense to see anything. After a long time, he felt a strange sensation, as if he was about to be swallowed up.

He activated his Body Refining Technique, and his expression returned to normal.

"You're not bad, kid, but you're not dead yet. If you were, I'd give you a seat in the Ten Halls of the Underworld. But who knows, maybe you'll be dead soon?" a hoarse voice echoed from within the fog.

A figure emerged from the fog, a middle-aged man dressed in a Confucian robe, wearing a square hat.

His features were ordinary, but his eyes had a hint of a scholar's calmness, and his body was clean and free of any ghostly aura. Anyone who saw him would think he was just a harmless scholar, not the King of the Ghosts.

Han Li knew that this person was indeed Wusuo Ghost King.

According to legend, Wusuo Ghost King was once a mortal scholar who had failed to pass the imperial exams, and after a series of misfortunes, he had risen up in rebellion against the kingdom. His rebel army had swept across the land, and he had used the infamous "human livestock" method to feed his troops.

The kingdom had been on the brink of collapse, and the immortal sects had intervened, violating the taboo against interfering with mortal affairs. Wusuo Ghost King had been defeated and killed, but his spirit had lingered, and he had eventually become a powerful ghost.

Through various means, he had avoided numerous heavenly disasters and had continued to cultivate, eventually becoming a ghost immortal and reaching the level of a Da Luo Ghost King.

But why had he been suppressed in this place?

Wu Chao Ghost King was dressed in a scholarly attire, his hand clenched into a claw, and a dark, palm-sized prison appeared in his palm, emitting electric sparks and crackling sounds. The thirty-six Qingtong Bee Cloud Swords were trapped inside, struggling and colliding with each other, but no matter how hard they tried, they couldn't break free from the prison's shackles.

"You're really patient, taking half a day to finally show yourself," Han Li said, not looking at the swords, but instead asking.

"Earlier, I felt a presence that was quite detestable yet made me wary. I couldn't determine what it was, and I thought it might be on those two people. Now, it seems it's on you. Not bad, not bad!" Wu Chao Ghost King looked at Han Li and chuckled.

"Are you talking about my Thunderbolt Annihilation Technique? You already have it in your hand, don't you?" Han Li feigned surprise and asked.

"This Thunderbolt Annihilation Technique is indeed troublesome, but it's not enough to make me wary. I've cultivated for so long, and I've seen all sorts of great winds and waves. I've killed countless Heavenly Messenger Sages," Wu Chao Ghost King said, raising an eyebrow.

As soon as he finished speaking, a strange phenomenon appeared behind Han Li. A narrow slit suddenly tore open in the air, and a dense, black mist poured out. Numerous ghostly hands and claws emerged, instantly blocking Han Li's retreat and grabbing at him.

Han Li's body didn't move, and a strange sound echoed from his body. Countless golden electric threads burst forth, covering him like a golden armor.

The ghostly hands touched the golden threads and immediately retreated, emitting black smoke.

Han Li turned around, raised his fist, and punched the black mist.

His body's acupoints flashed with light, and a brilliant starlight burst forth from his fist, illuminating the black mist. The ghostly hands were like they were burned by the starlight, retreating back into the mist.

Wu Chao Ghost King saw this and smiled. He controlled the still-struggling Qingtong Bee Cloud Swords with one hand and clenched his other hand into a claw, grasping the air.

Han Li saw the narrow slit tear open again, and the black mist spread out like a tide. At the same time, Wu Chao Ghost King's body suddenly became illusory and disappeared.

The dense mist merged with the sky, and Han Li felt the surroundings darken, as if he had entered the night. The scenery around him disappeared, and even the sounds of the Heavenly Water Sect disciples and the ten Red Robe Ghost Generals fighting couldn't be heard.

He furrowed his brow, quickly circulating his Cultivation Technique, and sent out his divine sense to explore.

"Ah, how strange! You have the Thunderbolt Annihilation Technique, and you've also cultivated the Cultivation Technique. Your level is not low, but it's useless against me... I'm becoming more and more interested in you," Wu Chao Ghost King's voice suddenly came from the surroundings, sounding somewhat ethereal.

"What's going on?" Han Li's brow furrowed in surprise.

Using his Cultivation Technique, he couldn't even detect Wu Chao Ghost King's exact location.

At this moment, a strange fluctuation appeared in the air around Han Li, and a blood-red light emerged. A figure of Wu Chao Ghost King condensed, and it was as if there were dozens of him, all with the same aura and releasing the same cultivation fluctuations, which were all at the Great Luo level.

Han Li's eyes narrowed, and he scanned the Wu Chao Ghost Kings, discovering that they all had the same aura. They moved simultaneously, dispersing in all directions, and surrounded Han Li from all sides.

The blood-red light on their bodies flashed, and they began to chant, releasing a series of strange, ancient symbols. These symbols floated in the air, forming a circle around Han Li.

Each symbol had a blood-red glow, and a ghostly head emerged from each one, opening its mouth in a silent roar. A dark red light shot out from each mouth, enveloping Han Li.

Han Li felt his body stiffen, and his blood seemed to freeze. His cultivation and stellar force stopped circulating.

At the same time, a blood-red wave surged in his mind, and a figure of Wu Chao Ghost King, condensed from blood, stepped forward, walking towards the depths of his mind.

Wherever the figure walked, Han Li's mind was invaded by the blood-red color.

Han Li's heart was shocked. Since he had cultivated the Cultivation Technique, when had he been so easily broken through, allowing someone to invade his mind?

His divine sense manifested in his mind, using all his strength to circulate the Cultivation Technique, and formed a strong barrier to resist the invasion. "No need to resist, my Soul-Seeking Technique is something that even ordinary Da Luo Realm cultivators can't withstand, why bother?" Wu Zuo Gui Wang, the Blood Shadow Bookworm, spoke in his raspy voice, which echoed within Han Li's mind.

"Uu Zuo Gui Wang, I have something I don't understand, can you enlighten me, so I can die with a clear conscience?" Han Li's divine soul didn't respond directly, instead asking a question.

"If it were anyone else, I wouldn't deign to answer, but since your divine soul is so strong, it can help me break through my cultivation, I'll make an exception and let you die with a clear conscience." The Blood Shadow Bookworm stopped in his tracks and responded.

"It's said that Uu Zuo Gui Wang was suppressed in the Heavenly Court's Divine Prison, why are you here?" Han Li asked.

"I thought you'd ask why your Refining Spirit Technique couldn't withstand my Soul-Seeking Technique, but instead, you asked this... it's really... never mind, I'll tell you anyway. The former master of the Divine Prison was the Tai Sui Immortal, who guarded the prison for millions of years. Later, he betrayed the Heavenly Court and escaped, and before leaving, he tricked me into coming out and imprisoned me here." Wu Zuo Gui Wang replied with a hint of reminiscence.

"Originally, I had no idea you had such a past, no wonder this Years Tower is so treacherous... it seems we're not here to seek treasure, but to throw ourselves into a trap... " Han Li smiled wryly, his hands hidden in his sleeves, but secretly forming a seal.

"You only thought you were seeking treasure, but in reality, you entered a place of death, otherwise, I wouldn't have stayed here for so many years. Even if I didn't kill you, you'd never be able to escape this tower, so why not let me help you find release, at least you'll have a chance to reincarnate... I'm actually being too kind, having read so many sacred scriptures, my conscience is still intact." Wu Zuo Gui Wang sighed lightly.

"I have one more question, can your divine soul withstand the Thunder of the Evil-Extinguishing God?" Han Li suddenly smiled, asking a question.

As soon as he finished speaking, the entire realm of his mind was suddenly filled with a surge of golden light, countless golden lightning bolts erupted from the surroundings, instantly engulfing his entire realm.

A series of electric explosions echoed through Han Li's mind, and the Blood Shadow Bookworm was submerged in the lightning, instantly disappearing, and the surrounding blood-red color retreated and dissipated.

Along with this, Han Li's mind was shaken violently, and even he felt a sharp, tearing pain, his divine soul suffering a significant injury.

The evil ghost skulls surrounding him cracked and shattered.

Han Li gritted his teeth, enduring the intense pain in his mind, and looked forward, seeing that among the dozens of Wu Zuo Gui Wang's figures, one of them had a golden light appearing in the center of his palm.

He quickly raised his hand and swung it in that direction, and a silver light flashed, followed by the appearance of the Crying Soul, which darted towards that direction.

As soon as it appeared, the Crying Soul didn't hesitate, and its body was surrounded by a black glow, instantly transforming into its true form as a demonic beast.

It grew to over a hundred feet tall, its body a massive, black ape, its fur standing on end like steel needles, its eyes glowing red, and its brow splitting open to reveal a third, blood-red eye. Three black, bony spikes protruded from its back, and its entire body radiated a dark, oppressive aura.

The Wu Zuo Gui Wang, whose divine soul had been severely damaged by the Thunder of the Evil-Extinguishing God, was shocked and enraged, never having expected Han Li to possess such a powerful technique, and even more astonished that he would release it within his own realm.

He struggled to stabilize his divine soul, and when he looked up, he saw his arch-nemesis suddenly appear before him, and for a moment, he was flustered.

Han Li took advantage of the opportunity, his hands forming a sword seal, and with a loud, thunderous sound, the thirty-six Qing Zhuo Cloud Swords, which had been sealed by Wu Zuo Gui Wang, burst forth, flying towards him in a flash of golden light.

Han Li looked at the flying swords, their golden light somewhat dimmed, and quickly stored them in the Xuan Tian Gourd to nurture them.

He glanced at the Crying Soul, which was already engaged in battle with Wu Zuo Gui Wang, and felt a wave of dizziness wash over him, his body swaying, and he quickly sat down in the lotus position.

"It seems the damage is worse than I thought..."

Han Li sighed inwardly, his hand flipping over to retrieve a pill to repair his divine soul, which he quickly swallowed, and began to meditate.

Currently, the Crying Soul's strength had not fully recovered, and facing the Da Luo-level Wu Zuo Gui Wang, although it had a natural advantage, the difference in strength was too great, and the outcome was uncertain.

Furthermore, they were in Wu Zuo Gui Wang's spiritual realm, and he had the advantage of being on home turf, so Han Li had to quickly stabilize his divine soul to help the Crying Soul, or they would be at a disadvantage.

With this thought, Han Li focused on refining the pill, calming his mind, and meditating.

Han Li sat cross-legged, regulating his breathing, when suddenly a fierce battle erupted nearby between the Wailing Soul and the Ghost King of the Dark Nest.

The Wailing Soul dodged a large cluster of razor-sharp claws and let out a deafening roar. Its body began to swell, and golden and silver symbols emerged from its skin, releasing powerful waves of energy.

At the same time, the Wailing Soul's third eye flashed, and a thick, blood-red beam of light shot out, striking the Ghost King.

The Ghost King's eyes flickered with a hint of fear, and he summoned dozens of shadowy figures to merge with his body. He then waved his sleeve, unleashing a massive cloud of black mist.

From the mist, a bony claw emerged, and a crimson glow appeared on its palm. A blood-red face materialized, with jagged teeth and sharp horns, looking ferocious.

The Ghost King's mouth opened, revealing a dark vortex that rotated wildly. The Wailing Soul's blood-red beam was absorbed by the vortex, and the two energies clashed.

Meanwhile, the Ghost King pressed his hand against the ground, and a strange, ancient symbol appeared, disappearing into the earth.

Suddenly, a circle of blood-red light appeared beneath the Wailing Soul, and a blood pool began to spread rapidly. The Wailing Soul tried to dodge, but its feet were rooted to the spot by an unseen force.

The blood pool's surface churned and bubbled, releasing a noxious stench, and the Wailing Soul's legs were quickly submerged. The pool's interior was filled with thousands of blood-red ghosts, which clawed and crawled towards the Wailing Soul.

The Wailing Soul's body was covered in black smoke, but it managed to resist the attack due to its robust physique. However, the battle had reached a stalemate.

Han Li, who had been meditating, suddenly opened his eyes and leapt to his feet. He gazed at the Ghost King, and his wrist twitched, summoning the thirty-six Cloud-Sword blades. He charged forward, but a sudden, intense energy wave erupted from the shadows.

A figure emerged from the darkness, its presence masked by the night. It lunged at Han Li with a palm strike.

Han Li's eyes narrowed, and his body flashed with a brilliant light. He vanished, reappearing hundreds of feet away. However, the attacker's hand remained, and a blazing golden fire erupted from its palm, encasing Han Li in a fiery prison.

"Qi Mozi!" Han Li exclaimed, recognizing the attacker.

Qi Mozi's face was twisted in a snarl. Han Li sensed a disruption in the flow of time and felt a chill run down his spine. A golden wheel appeared behind him, radiating intense light and releasing a barrage of golden energy beams.

The beams clashed with the flames, creating a void that slowed down time. The golden light dissipated, but the flames continued to rage.

The Wailing Soul, still trapped in the blood pool, saw Qi Mozi's attack and wanted to intervene. However, it was bound by the Ghost King's magic and couldn't escape.

Qi Mozi sneered, "You've grown stronger since our last meeting, but you're still no match for me. Today, I'll eliminate you and prevent future troubles."

The flames intensified, pushing back the golden light and encroaching on Han Li's surroundings.

Han Li let out a mighty roar, and his body glowed with energy. He summoned the power of the Heavenly Executioner's Prison, and his fist struck the air, countering Qi Mozi's attack. Han Li's fists burst forth with a brilliant starlight that exploded into a snow-white light screen, compressing the air and pressing forward, layer by layer, until the space in front of him began to distort and break apart, pushing towards Qi Mozi.

"Boom! Boom! Boom!"

The air was filled with the sound of explosions as the light screen compressed the space, and countless golden flames were absorbed into the distortion, momentarily relieving the pressure of the golden light.

Han Li seized the opportunity to raise his hand and swing it, unleashing thirty-six Qingtian Bee Cloud Swords that scattered from his back, shooting upwards with a piercing cry, transforming into sword energy trails that vanished into thin air.

However, in the blink of an eye, the Qingtian Bee Cloud Swords flew back from the distant sky, their tips pointing directly at Qi Mozi's back, with golden electric threads crackling on their surface as they rapidly approached.

Just as they were about to reach Qi Mozi, a sheet of golden flames suddenly emerged from the void, pinning the swords in mid-air, even freezing the golden lightning on their surface.

Qi Mozi's palm swept out in a fierce motion, accompanied by a loud roar.

A golden light flashed before him, and a burning torch materialized out of thin air.

"No!"

Han Li's heart skipped a beat as he hastily withdrew the True Speech Treasure Wheel into his body.

The next instant, the flames on the torch's surface began to spread, releasing a wave of light that rippled through the air, causing everything in the void to come to a standstill, frozen in time.

Han Li had released his Time Domain in the same instant, and withdrawn the True Speech Treasure Wheel into his body, rapidly reversing its rotation. However, he still couldn't escape the pursuit of the flame's light, and was enveloped by it after a mere two breaths.

In an instant, Han Li's body slowed to a crawl, although he wasn't completely immobile like before, he still appeared powerless.

Moreover, without the protection of the Thunder Array, even if he could momentarily break free, he wouldn't be able to escape.

However, Han Li's cultivation breakthrough wasn't entirely useless, and despite his slow movements, he could still move, and his thoughts weren't completely hindered by the time constraint.

The next instant, a silver light flashed on Han Li's body, and a layer of silver flames slowly spread out, covering his body like a suit of armor, emitting a powerful fire attribute law force.

As the silver flames appeared, the void around Han Li seemed to distort and become illusory, and the flame's light that fell upon it was even repelled.

"How is this possible? Can the Five Elements Law really shake the Supreme Law?" Qi Mozi exclaimed, his eyes wide with shock.

With a sweep of his hand, the black short axe flew out once more, transforming into a dark light that shot towards Han Li.

This time, without the True Speech Treasure Wheel's golden ripples to block it, the black short axe pierced through the layers of flames and struck Han Li, who was enveloped by the golden flames.

Just as the axe was about to land on Han Li, a layer of golden sand particles condensed from the air, blocking the axe's path, and a golden gourd appeared above Han Li's head, releasing a wave of golden liquid that wrapped around the axe's handle.

The axe blade was trapped in the golden sand, as if stuck in a time vortex, and no matter how hard it tried, it couldn't break through the sand and land on Han Li.

The golden liquid from the gourd even corroded the axe's handle, causing it to decay and rot.

As the axe was bound and unable to move, Qi Mozi's expression turned even colder.

He took a step forward, his foot stepping on the void, and approached Han Li, whose Time Domain had little effect on him.

Qi Mozi's body drew closer, and the golden torch floating before him also drew nearer, its flames intensifying as they pressed down on Han Li.

The silver flames on Han Li's body surged wildly, but his ability to resist the flames was weakening.

Han Li's throat let out a hoarse cry as he poured all his energy into the Five Elements Illusory World Technique, causing his body to shine with a brilliant golden light.

His True Speech Treasure Wheel, the Time-Reversing Flowing Fire, and the Eastern Yi Divine Wood all appeared at the same time, releasing their respective powers.

The five time law objects, each with its own unique fluctuations, released a wave of energy that resonated with each other, but unlike before, they didn't form a unified golden ring.

As a result, the five powers remained separate, unable to stop Qi Mozi's approach.

But just as they thought that was the end, a shocking scene unfolded, leaving both Qi Mozi and Han Li stunned!

The Zhenyan Treasure Wheel's surface suddenly lit up with a brilliant light, as if a multitude of Dao patterns had emerged, fluttering and dancing in the air. The wheel itself detached from Han Li's back and flew upwards, suspended in mid-air like a full moon, its golden light radiating downwards.

The golden hourglass followed, falling to the ground and releasing its golden sand, which slowly poured out, spreading rapidly and covering the ground. In the blink of an eye, it had reached Qimozi's feet.

Qimozi's eyes widened in shock, his raised foot hesitating for a moment before he violently stomped into the sand, feeling a slight delay before continuing his advance towards Han Li.

However, just as he was about to reach Han Li, the other three time law manifestation objects began to change.

The golden liquid in the Guangyin Vessel transformed into a long, golden river, flowing and swirling in the air. The Dongyi Divine Tree was planted in the golden sand, condensing into a forest of virtual shadows. The golden torch flew into the sky, dispersing into countless sparks, resembling the starry night sky.

"This is... could it be?"

Qimozi's eyes flashed with shock, his footsteps stopping as he gazed at the scene before him.

Even Han Li himself was surprised by the sudden appearance of this strange and wondrous scene. The five time law manifestation objects had merged with his time domain, creating a fantastical landscape.

Han Li's domain space changed, causing the time law fluctuations within the domain to intensify, as if the golden ripples were resisting Qimozi's disrupted flow of time. However, the difference in their cultivation realms was too great, and Qimozi maintained the upper hand.

"Good! You've indeed obtained the Great Five Elements Illusory World Technique, and you've already reached the point of resonating with the domain. This time, you won't be able to escape, and I will definitely obtain this technique!" Qimozi's face, which had initially been shocked, was now filled with an indescribable excitement.

As he spoke, he activated the golden torch, summoning a brilliant light, and retrieved the black short axe, striking down towards Han Li.

Han Li had no choice but to use his Great Five Elements Illusory World Technique and the Tianxia Zhenjin Technique to their limits, preparing to ignite his true spirit blood vessels and transform into a three-headed, six-armed form to withstand the attack.

But just as he was about to do so, a sudden change occurred!

The five time law manifestation objects on the surface suddenly emitted a brilliant light, as if time law crystals were shooting out, merging and fusing in the air, releasing a dazzling five-colored light.

Qimozi felt the five-colored light enveloping him, his expression changing as he became frozen in place, unable to move.

Han Li's eyes flashed with surprise as he saw the five-colored light illuminating Qimozi's body, causing his form to begin to blur and split into multiple virtual shadows.

However, as the shadows continued to divide, the first virtual shadow began to shine with a faint light, its body dissolving into a gray mist, dispersing into the air.

As the shadows continued to disappear, the real Qimozi's body began to undergo a subtle transformation, his aura changing as well.

Han Li was unaware of the fortunate coincidence that had created this strange scene, and he feared that any careless movement would disrupt the scene before him.

So, he carefully maintained his technique, focusing all his energy on the Great Five Elements Illusory World Technique.

However, his eyes never left Qimozi's body.

After observing for a moment, Han Li discovered that as the virtual shadows disappeared, Qimozi's cultivation was gradually weakening... or rather, his age was decreasing.

The virtual shadows seemed to be the countless years Qimozi had experienced, and as they dissipated under the five-colored light, he was being pulled into a time trap, his body regressing to a state from tens of thousands, hundreds of thousands, or even millions of years ago.

Within a dozen breaths, Qimozi's aura had plummeted, and he was unable to maintain even the early stages of the Mahayana realm, his state becoming increasingly unstable.

"How is this possible? These are just illusions, how can they have such power?" Qimozi struggled desperately, but to no avail, and he cried out in shock.

Han Li gritted his teeth, pouring all his energy into the technique.

He believed that if he could just hold on for a few more breaths, Qimozi's body would regress even further, perhaps to the point where he could no longer maintain his cultivation, and Han Li would have a chance to defeat him.

But fate was not on his side. The five-colored light above Qimozi's head began to fade, its color becoming increasingly dull, as if its energy was being rapidly depleted, and it was on the verge of collapse. "Hold on a bit longer, just a bit longer..." Han Li's eyebrows were scrunched up into a knot, his heart constantly praying.

But in the next instant, a faint "plop" sound echoed out.

The five-colored fusion light, under intense consumption, finally lost all its color, and all the time crystal threads within it had exhausted all their time law power, transforming into thin, transparent silk threads.

Immediately after, the spiritual domain's round moon descended, the stars gathered, the mountains flattened, the rivers flowed backwards, the trees disappeared, and all the illusory landscapes that had been conjured up dissipated.

Then, the five time law incarnations reappeared, each one's light dimly flying into Han Li's body, and no matter how he called out, they couldn't be externalized.

Not waiting for Qimozi to react, Han Li let out a loud roar, circulating the Tian Xiao Zhen Yu (Heavenly Executioner's Imprisonment) technique while reversing the true spirit blood vessels in his body. A crimson light burst forth, and his body suddenly expanded, transforming into a three-headed, six-armed form in an instant.

The central giant ape's head glared, its eyes flashing, as it swung a massive fist at Qimozi, followed by a dragon claw covered in golden scales that shot out, grasping at him.

The latter had just regained his freedom, but he didn't care about his realm decreasing, and hastily raised his hand to perform a strange hand seal, then pushed out a palm. The golden fire on the golden fire torch suddenly surged upwards.

A golden flame dragon formed, charging straight at Han Li.

The flame dragon's body condensed a dense time law power, moving at an unfathomable speed that surpassed Han Li's giant fist and dragon claw, striking him first.

Wherever the flame dragon passed, the void's time momentarily froze, its power not inferior to Han Li's when he was in the Da Luo realm. If Han Li was hit, his body would definitely become stuck, unable to fight back.

However, Han Li had long been prepared for this situation. The moment the golden flame dragon appeared, a green light burst forth in front of him, and the Xuan Tian Gourd (Mysterious Heaven Gourd) had opened its mouth, waiting.

The gourd's mouth was spinning rapidly with a green light, but when the golden flame dragon approached, it slowed down, yet never truly stopped.

When the golden flame dragon drew near, it was inevitably sucked in, directly swallowed by the gourd.

The gourd violently shook, its mouth self-sealing, its body still trembling non-stop.

Han Li had no time to care about the gourd's abnormality, and immediately grasped this fleeting opportunity, swinging out a fist and a claw simultaneously. The star power within him also surged out without restraint.

Qimozi, under the influence of the five-colored fusion light, was originally unstable, and having just used a secret technique, was caught off guard by Han Li's sudden absorption of the attack into the gourd. He was unable to counterattack, and was struck by a massive force that was like a mountain range crashing down.

A loud "boom" echoed out!

A burst of starlight exploded, and Qimozi's figure was struck, flying out amidst the starlight fragments.

His bones crackled, and he spat out a mouthful of blood, his eyes still fixed on Han Li with hatred, until he flew out of the black night sky that the Wuguo Ghost King had shrouded, and heavily crashed to the ground.

Han Li's body leapt forward, chasing after him, but the latter flashed away, shooting towards the distance and disappearing in an instant.

The ten Red Robed Ghost Generals and the Tian Shui Sect disciples, who were fighting in the distance, didn't even see his figure, only seeing the torn black night sky slowly closing, with a faint three-headed, six-armed giant demon silhouette visible inside.

Han Li's gaze slowly returned from the distance, his mind stirring slightly. The thirty-six Qing Zhu Bee Cloud Swords and the Jing Yan Fire Bird, which had been sealed by the Broken Time Flowing Fire, flew back to his side.

He turned his gaze to the other side, and saw that Ti Hu and the Wuguo Ghost King were still fighting, their bodies covered in shocking wounds, seemingly at a disadvantage.

The Wuguo Ghost King had already transformed into a several hundred zhang tall giant ghost, wearing a blood-red armor, with a crimson cloak draped over it, its entire body a deep red color.

Its head had sharp horns, its mouth had fangs, and its face was twisted with ferocity. When it breathed, two streams of blood mist flowed out of its nostrils, its body emitting a powerful, bloody aura that made one want to vomit.

The Wuguo Ghost King grasped a massive white bone trident, its shaft inscribed with blood-red symbols, its tip wrapped in black smoke, stabbing straight at Ti Hu's brow.

Ti Hu's brow was filled with a surging blood light, which collided with the Wuguo Ghost King's attack, splashing out a large amount of blood light.

"Go!"

Han Li's palm swung out, and the thirty-six Qing Zhu Bee Cloud Swords flew out first, shining with countless sword lights, like a golden sword rain pouring down from the sky, fiercely chopping towards the Wuguo Ghost King.

A burst of golden lightning erupted from the thirty-six Qingtian Bee Cloud Swords, mixing with the sword energy to engulf the Wū Cháo Ghost King.

"Ah..."

A violent roar echoed from the Ghost King's mouth as his body was covered in numerous dense wounds, with bloodlight flashing and black smoke rising.

He turned his head to look at Han Li, who was charging towards him with large strides, and immediately spat out a mouthful of air.

A loud "whoosh" sound erupted as a dense black flame burst out from his mouth, instantly forming a black fire wall that pushed forward, layer upon layer, overwhelming the surroundings.

Han Li's eyes flashed, but he didn't move, completely unresponsive.

A silver light flashed from his side, transforming into a giant silver firebird with seven-colored flames on its head, its body enormous, with wings that stretched over a thousand feet wide. With a single flap, it was like a giant silver blade, cutting through the black fire wall with ease.

The silver firebird's body charged through the center of the fire wall, its wings pushing out flames that parted to reveal a wide, open road.

Han Li's shadow flashed through the opening, his body surrounded by a silver electric glow as the power of the Lei Peng surged, his massive body appearing beside the Wū Cháo Ghost King in an instant. He punched out with a loud "boom".

The Wū Cháo Ghost King stumbled, his massive body tilting to the side, his hand holding the white bone trident wavering.

A "buzz" sound erupted as the bloodlight from the Qì Hún's eyes shot into the Ghost King's shoulder.

The Wū Cháo Ghost King let out a mournful wail, his shoulder armor melting away, revealing a giant blood hole that spewed out dark liquid.

"You're courting death, I'll crush your bones to dust!"

A sharp, ear-piercing shriek echoed from his mouth, his body surrounded by a surge of black energy, as countless dark ghostly shadows shot out from within, tearing at Han Li and Qì Hún.

The ghostly shadows seemed real, yet intangible, dispersing like smoke when Han Li tried to punch them. Unable to land a hit, Han Li recalled the Qingtian Bee Cloud Swords to surround him, releasing the Xié Yī Shén Léi to drive them back.

However, these ghostly shadows seemed to defy the Xié Yī Shén Léi, dispersing momentarily before recondensing and reappearing.

Moreover, whenever they approached Han Li, he felt an eerie, yin-yang energy seeping into his bones, as if it came from the underworld.

As the attacks continued, the yin-yang energy accumulated within him, and his body began to feel an icy, bone-chilling cold.

Qì Hún, on the other hand, was faring worse, her movements slowing, struggling to keep up with the Wū Cháo Ghost King's attacks.

If they continued to fight like this, they would surely be defeated.

Just as Han Li's thoughts reached this point, he suddenly had an idea.

"Qì Hún, come back!"

His mind stirred, and the Jīng Huǒ Firebird, which had been consuming the black fire wall, flew back into his body.

Han Li felt a surge of heat, the icy coldness dissipating, and his body returned to its original state. The silver electric glow on his body flashed, and he appeared before the Wū Cháo Ghost King.

The Wū Cháo Ghost King swung his white bone trident, trying to sweep Han Li away.

Han Li saw this and reached for the green gourd hanging from his waist, which he had picked up earlier. He poured the contents of the gourd towards the Wū Cháo Ghost King.

A "boom" sound erupted as the green vortex at the mouth of the gourd spun wildly, and a golden flame dragon burst out, charging towards the Ghost King.

This dragon was the same one that Qí Mó Zǐ had attacked Han Li with earlier, but after being trapped in the Xuán Tiān Gourd for a while, its size and speed had decreased significantly. However, its passage still distorted the space-time continuum, slowing down everything around it.

The Wū Cháo Ghost King, already exhausted from fighting Qì Hún and Han Li, saw the dragon approaching and hastily threw his white bone trident.

The dragon's speed was incredible, and the trident barely had time to fly out before colliding with the dragon.

A deafening "boom" sound shook the air.

The golden flame dragon exploded, releasing a burst of golden spiritual flames that engulfed the Wū Cháo Ghost King.

"Time..." The Wū Cháo Ghost King, caught in the explosion, felt an eerie power take hold of him, his mind going blank as his entire body was frozen in place.

A moment later, the golden flame dragon's explosion began to dissipate, and the affected area began to shrink. As the power of the Time Law within the Lingyan reduced to half, the consciousness in Wu Chao's mind also recovered. When his thoughts were still lingering on the "Time Law's power...", Han Li's figure suddenly appeared from afar.

His body was fully activated with the Tianxie Zhenyin Gong, and the thirty-six Qingzhu Fengyun swords in his hand merged into one. The sword light and lightning burst forth simultaneously, sweeping horizontally towards Wu Chao's neck.

A loud crack of thunder sounded, followed by a crisp "crack" sound. Wu Chao's head had already flown high into the air, his eyes wide open, and his body rolled to the ground with a "gulugulu" sound.

There was no blood flowing from his severed neck, only countless dark and sinister ghostly spirits pouring out, like a flock of crows taking flight, emitting a rustling sound.

As the vengeful spirits emerged, the atmosphere around them grew thick with malevolent energy, and the Yin wind howled fiercely, making the air feel even more oppressive.

Just as Han Li was about to release the Jingyan Firebird to incinerate the spirits, he saw Ti Hu arrive.

Her nose twitched, and she let out a loud snort, releasing a burst of yellow light from her nostrils that enveloped the ghostly spirits emerging from Wu Chao's neck.

With a swift motion, she inhaled the yellow light, and the ghostly spirits within began to shatter and disintegrate, transforming into a dense black light that was sucked into her nostrils.

As the black light poured into her body, the dark energy surrounding them began to dissipate, and the night sky slowly cleared.

Han Li's eyes narrowed, and he felt a sense of relief. He held up his sword to protect Ti Hu, scanning the surroundings.

In the distance, the battlefield was still ablaze with intense fighting. The ancient temple was almost completely destroyed, with only a single arch remaining.

Of the original ten Red Robed Ghost Generals, only three remained: the scholar with the shrill voice and the Ox-Headed Ghost General.

On the side of the Tian Shui Sect, only Su Zhen and Jing Liu remained.

The corpses of the cultivators on the ground had disappeared, either devoured by the ghost generals or reclaimed by Jing Liu's Linglong Pagoda. The only ones left were the four scattered cultivators, now reduced to white bones, still maintaining their defensive stance, surrounded by a swarm of malevolent spirits.

Han Li hesitated for a moment before waving his hand, unleashing a gust of wind that scattered the nearby ghostly spirits. He then used the wind to sweep away the debris and bury the remains of the scattered cultivators.

The two combatants and the three ghost generals finally noticed the change in the atmosphere.

"Ghost King..."

The scholar ghost general let out a shrill cry, as if he had suddenly lost his mind, and charged towards Ti Hu.

Han Li swiftly intervened, his Qingzhu Fengyun sword slicing downwards.

A brilliant sword light, wrapped in golden lightning, tore through the dark sky, striking the scholar ghost general and splitting him in two.

The latter's body began to disintegrate, his voice whispering "Ghost King... Ghost King... Ghost..." as his form dissipated into nothingness.

The Ox-Headed Ghost General and the Horse-Faced Ghost General saw their companion fall and immediately fled, with Jing Liu and Su Zhen in hot pursuit, disappearing into the distance.

Han Li merely glanced at them before turning away.

He surveyed the surroundings, seeing that the situation had finally stabilized, and sat down cross-legged, closing his eyes to meditate.

The damage to his divine soul and the exhaustion from using the Time Law's power had left him feeling drained.

After a short period of time, his eyes slowly opened, and his expression turned complex.

The strange occurrences in the spirit realm and the appearance of the law's manifestation had left him perplexed. However, based on Qi Mochen's reaction, he suspected that this was not a coincidence, but rather a result of his cultivation of the Da Wuxing Huan Shi Jue.

Unfortunately, he had learned this technique through self-study, and some things could only be understood through trial and error.

With the True Word Treasure Wheel and other time law manifestations temporarily unusable, his options were limited, and he couldn't help but feel a sense of frustration.

"This is a mixed blessing, I can only take things one step at a time..." he sighed, standing up.

Ti Hu, having finished devouring the entire Wu Chao, returned to her human form and approached him.

"Burp..." she let out a satisfied belch.

"I ate a bit too much..." Ti Hu said with a hint of embarrassment.

"Earlier, you said you felt a bit empty inside, now that you've eaten your fill, it's good. Let's head back to the cave and rest for a while..." Han Li smiled and said.

"I need to close my eyes and cultivate for a while, and then I'll be able to help Master even more." Ti Hu replied.

Han Li nodded, and with a wave of his hand, opened the silver light door. Ti Hu stepped through, disappearing into the distance.

Han Li watched her go, his eyes narrowing slightly as he pondered the events that had transpired.

Han Li waved his hand to close the light door behind him, and his body swayed slightly as he flew towards the broken temple, landing in front of the remaining circular stone gate.

The stone gate had two broken wooden doors in the middle, with severe peeling of the red paint, looking extremely dilapidated.

On the two wooden doors, a bronze beast-shaped carving was embedded, resembling a Pixiu, with some resemblance to "Little White". The carving held a large bronze ring in its mouth, with dense talismanic patterns engraved around it.

From the talismanic patterns, it was clear that this was not a particularly profound restriction, but the fluctuations it emitted were identical to the feeling when entering the third layer of space.

Without a doubt, the fourth layer was also easy to enter, but difficult to exit.

Han Li looked at it for a moment, then put aside his slightly disturbed emotions and began to set up the array to break the restriction.

Before long, two flashes of light flew in from a distance, and Jing Liu and Su Zhenyan arrived, landing behind Han Li.

"Stone friend..." Jing Liu's eyes were complex, and after a moment of hesitation, he hurriedly bowed and said.

Su Zhenyan only looked at Han Li's back, without bowing or speaking, and her eyes were filled with wariness and doubt towards the person in front of her, who was completely different from before.

"Did you catch up?" Han Li asked casually, without turning his head, continuing to work on the array.

"Those two ghostly generals injured two of our sect's elders, we can't let them off." Jing Liu saw that Han Li didn't turn his head, and his eyes didn't show any displeasure, only some hesitation.

"I'll go arrange for their bodies to be taken care of." Su Zhenyan said to Jing Liu, and her body flashed away.

Jing Liu watched her leave, and soon turned back to stare at Han Li.

He furrowed his brow, thinking for a moment, before finally asking, "Stone friend, your methods are extraordinary, but you've always been secretive and never acted. Is there something you're not saying?"

"A lone cultivator, always cautious, Jing friend doesn't need to be too alert, I have no grudges with you, and I don't want to have any grudges with you." Han Li replied, still not turning his head.

"Earlier, I was blind to your abilities, and I was rude to you. But from the fact that you helped Master Pei and the others, I can see that you're not a narrow-minded person. So I'm not worried about having a grudge with you, but I want to form an alliance with you." Jing Liu said, his eyes flashing with a hint of apology.

"I'm used to traveling alone, so forming an alliance is unnecessary. Besides, in this situation, even if I agreed to form an alliance, could we truly trust each other?" Han Li smiled and said.

"This..." Jing Liu hesitated.

"Traveling together is already a coincidence, if we have the chance to help each other, we can do so. Otherwise, let's not force it. When the time is right, we'll part ways and go our separate ways." Han Li said slowly.

As he finished speaking, he finished setting up the array to break the restriction, and clapped his hands together.

The sound of "clang clang" came from the circular stone gate, and the Pixiu carving's mouth opened, revealing a dark red light door.

"Since you've said so, then let's follow your words." Jing Liu looked at the light door, and his heart slightly relaxed, nodding in agreement.

At this time, Su Zhenyan also flew back, and the three of them exchanged a few words before entering the light door together, disappearing from sight.

...

In a certain place within the Years Tower.

On a desolate and barren land covered in rocks, a lone black and white stone monument stood, with a strange figure leaning against one of the pillars.

The figure had long and wide limbs, with skin as red as fire, and a head of fiery red hair, with flames flickering within. This was none other than Qi Mozi, who had just had a fierce battle with Han Li.

His hands were clasped together in front of him, and his body was slightly floating, with a layer of golden light waves constantly rippling around him, clearly in the midst of cultivating a higher-level technique.

A moment later, his eyes suddenly opened, and a flash of anger appeared in his eyes.

"A 'Disaster Time Flowing Fire Collection' is nothing but a waste of time, even if I cultivate for a thousand years. Old Ancestor, who did you truly pass on the 'Great Five Elements Fantasy World Technique' to? Could it be that that kid is also your closed-door disciple?"

Qi Mozi's teeth clenched, his voice filled with anger.

After a moment of silence, he began to speculate, "Or perhaps... that kid is like that gray-haired old mouse, and he secretly listened to the teachings within the sect?"

But he quickly shook his head, rejecting his own idea.

If it was possible to understand the secrets of the 'Great Five Elements Fantasy World Technique' just by listening to the teachings, then wouldn't he and his fellow disciples be nothing but fools?

"It's fortunate that this kid has only grasped the surface of the technique, and the effects of the Five Elements Fantasy won't last long. Once my cultivation is restored, the next time we meet, I won't give him any chance. I'll kill him, even if it means I won't obtain the technique, otherwise, he'll become a great threat in the future." Qi Mozi slowly exhaled a breath of turbid air, calming his emotions, and muttered to himself.

As he finished speaking, his eyes narrowed, and his hands began to form a seal, continuing to cultivate and refine his technique. At the same time, Han Li and the other two appeared on a vast ice plain.

The place where they stood was a thick layer of ice, and when they looked around, they could see many towering ice mountains in the distance, emitting a dazzling glow.

The ice plain was also extremely cold, with a fierce wind blowing, like the roar of a dragon, causing the ice flakes to fly everywhere.

Behind them, several hundred meters away, stood a massive ice mountain, with a spatial door embedded in it, flashing with a bright red light.

Next to the spatial door stood a stone stele, with a single character "Four" written on it.

When the three saw the scene before them, they all showed a hint of surprise, but they didn't relax, cautiously exploring their surroundings.

Han Li raised an eyebrow, and sensed that the time restriction in the void was stronger than the third layer, and the restriction on his divine sense was also greater, only allowing him to extend it to about half of the third layer. The impact on his speed was also likely to be greater.

"Let's go and explore the surroundings," Su Zhenzi said softly, her body flying upwards.

Han Li and Jing Liu also flew up, and the three of them chose a direction to head in.

As Han Li flew, his eyes flashed, and he saw that the speed of flight in this layer was indeed affected, and was only about half of the third layer.

Of course, the three of them didn't fly at full speed, but were extremely cautious, always on the lookout for their surroundings.

Han Li flew forward, his face calm, but his heart was like walking on thin ice, his divine sense fully open to monitor the surroundings.

He had long expected that Qi Mozi would be in this secret realm, but his appearance still gave him a great shock.

He had thought that his own strength had increased greatly, and that he would be able to handle Qi Mozi, but he didn't expect to be in such a difficult situation.

Moreover, he was now unable to use his divine abilities, and his strength had decreased greatly. Qi Mozi, although injured by the sudden change in the "Great Five Elements Illusory World Technique", had not been seriously harmed, and he didn't know if he would suddenly appear again.

And even if he didn't, as they continued to head towards the higher levels of the Tower of Time, they would eventually meet again, and it would likely be a battle to the death.

It seemed that he had inadvertently used a secret technique of the Great Five Elements Illusory World Technique, and had deceived Qi Mozi, but with his cunning, he was likely to have already recovered. When they met again, it would not be a simple matter of one side escaping, but a true battle to the death.

Han Li sighed, and took out two recovery pills, swallowing them and using his full strength to refine them, recovering the consumed spiritual energy.

The consecutive battles had also consumed a lot of his spiritual energy.

As the pills were refined, his consumed spiritual energy slowly recovered, and to his surprise, the dormant True Word Treasure Wheel and other time law objects began to stir, showing signs of awakening.

Han Li sensed this, and his heart was filled with joy, and he put down the worry in his heart, and focused on refining the pills.

Su Zhenzi and Jing Liu seemed to be doing the same, as they slowly moved forward, observing their surroundings and recovering their strength.

Time passed, and it wasn't long before half a day had passed.

It was somewhat unexpected that during this time, they didn't encounter anything, neither treasures nor metal beasts, nor fire insects.

Everything was quiet, but there was a sense of eeriness.

"What's going on? We've been traveling for so long, and it's been so calm, it's making me feel uneasy," Jing Liu said softly.

Han Li's brow was also furrowed, and this layer was indeed strange, they had walked for so long, and there was no sign of danger, only ice plains, ice mountains, and cold winds.

"This place is indeed strange, there's no sign of danger, but that's also good, we can look for the entrance to the next layer," Su Zhenzi said thoughtfully.

Han Li and Jing Liu had no objections, and they continued to scan their surroundings with their divine sense.

The three of them continued to search for half a day, but still found nothing, until they came to a massive ice mountain, where they finally discovered something different.

At the base of the ice mountain stood a group of palaces, made of a blue material, but without any cold aura, seemingly made of a type of jade.

The layout of the palaces was similar to the ancient temple in the third layer, but without the 30% eerie atmosphere.

However, the palaces were now in ruins, and had been for a long time, with many places frozen and sealed in ice.

The three of them saw this, and were initially stunned, before exchanging a glance.

"Looking at the layout of this place, it's similar to the third layer. According to the Ghost King's words, each layer of the Tower of Time imprisons a powerful prisoner, and there should be a powerful monster inside, we need to be careful," Su Zhenzi said seriously.

"Not bad, being careful can't be wrong," Jing Liu said.

Han Li nodded, and the three of them cautiously approached the palaces.

Han Li naturally didn't have any objections to Su Zhen Cai's suggestion, after all, he wasn't a rash person.

The three of them each released their divine sense to search the surroundings, and after not finding any danger, they flew down and carefully searched the area, but unfortunately, they still didn't find anything special.

The palace was devoid of any living creatures' aura, with only ice and snow-filled winds remaining.

The three of them continued to search, and soon arrived at a grand hall deep within the palace.

This place was located in a deeper part of the palace, and the cold wind from outside could no longer be felt. The air flow was quite stable.

Han Li stepped into the grand hall, and his eyes suddenly flashed.

"What is it, Brother Shi? Have you discovered something?" Su Zhen Cai immediately noticed Han Li's subtle change in expression and asked.

Jin Liu heard the sound and also looked over, and at this moment, he had already put away his disdain for Han Li. Facing Han Li's change in expression, his heart also skipped a beat.

Han Li didn't respond to Su Zhen Cai's words, but instead quickly walked a few steps forward and picked up an object from the corner of the grand hall, which was a few half-transparent white hairs.

These hairs were over half a foot long, extremely soft, and incredibly fine, making them difficult to detect with the naked eye. If not for Han Li's strong divine sense, he probably wouldn't have noticed them.

"What are these hairs? They seem to be from some kind of unusual beast." Su Zhen Cai's expression changed as she said.

"Yes, since these hairs are here, it's possible that some kind of unusual beast is hiding here." Han Li flipped his hand and put the hairs away, looking towards the deeper part of the grand hall with a faint flash in his eyes.

Because he possessed multiple true spirit bloodlines, he was extremely sensitive to true spirit auras.

From these hairs, Han Li faintly sensed some true spirit aura, which was similar to his Qing Luan bloodline.

Su Zhen Cai and Jin Liu exchanged a glance, their expressions becoming more serious.

Jin Liu slightly pondered, then flicked his sleeve, and a green light shot out, landing on the ground in front of them.

After the light dissipated, a small, green beast appeared, shaped like a fox but with a longer nose than usual, and a pair of bright green eyes that were extremely agile.

The moment the fox appeared, it crouched down and sniffed the air, then quickly ran forward.

"Bì Jīng Líng Hú!" Han Li's eyebrows twitched.

"Ah, Brother Shi seems to be quite knowledgeable, recognizing my spirit beast." Jin Liu said with some surprise.

"I just happened to come across it in some ancient texts." Han Li said.

This fox was a type of fox that was not strong in combat, but its eyes and nose were extremely sensitive, making it suitable for exploration and treasure hunting. However, it was extremely rare, and few people possessed one.

"With this Bì Jīng Líng Hú leading the way, we'll be much safer following behind. Let's go." Jin Liu said.

The three of them followed the fox, continuing forward, and soon passed through several grand halls.

The buildings ahead suddenly became sparse, and a long corridor appeared.

After passing through the corridor, they simultaneously felt a sense of joy, quickly moving forward, and arrived at a dark and grand hall.

The hall was about 20-30 meters in size, with nothing inside, and a stone door stood at the far end, adorned with a dark red light door, which was a spatial door.

There were no restrictions on this spatial door, possibly because it had already been broken through.

"A spatial door, and we found it without any effort." Su Zhen Cai said with some excitement.

However, Su Zhen Cai didn't immediately approach the door, instead, she carefully searched the hall with her divine sense.

The more easily obtained the benefit, the more traps there were, and one couldn't be careless.

Han Li and Jin Liu were also doing the same, with Jin Liu driving the Bì Jīng Líng Hú to run around the hall and explore.

The three of them searched for a while, and their expressions became somewhat strange.

No matter how they searched, even Su Zhen Cai directly opened her spirit domain, they still didn't find any traps or dangers.

"It seems that something happened here, causing this part of the palace to collapse, and the imprisoned existence either fell or left. Let's go, we'll head directly to the fifth floor." Su Zhen Cai said, then led the way into the spatial door, and indeed, nothing unusual happened, and they entered smoothly.

Han Li and Jin Liu saw this, and also followed, entering the spatial door.

The scenery in front of them changed, and they appeared on a desolate and barren plain.

The plain was also filled with howling winds and flying sand, with no end in sight, and the horizon stretched out endlessly.

Apart from this, all around them, there were numerous earthen mountains, shaped by the wind into various strange and fantastical forms, looking quite peculiar.

Su Zhen Cai was currently floating in mid-air, looking around.

"This place is quite strange." Han Li and Jin Liu also looked around.

The time restriction in the void was even stronger here, and their divine sense could only explore about 10% of the distance. The time restriction in the void not only greatly reduced the range of their divine senses, but also seemed to press down on their divine souls like a boulder, affecting the accuracy of their divine sense probing. The faces of Han Li, Su Zhen, and Jin Liu all turned solemn.

"Let's go," Su Zhen said with a light sigh. "If this tower really has seven layers, then we only have three left. I hope we can pass through this layer smoothly."

As they moved forward, the winds in this place grew stronger, sweeping away the ground and stirring up countless large and small rocks that swirled in the air, blocking out the sun and sky like a sandstorm.

Han Li's eyes flashed as he suddenly stopped flying, looking towards the rolling winds ahead.

"What's wrong, Brother Shi?" Su Zhen and Jin Liu asked, also stopping.

"This wind is strange, it's not a natural phenomenon, but rather someone's manipulation," Han Li said, his brow furrowed.

Su Zhen and Jin Liu were taken aback, carefully probing their surroundings, and soon their expressions also changed.

They also discovered the anomaly in the winds, which contained threads of spiritual energy fluctuations, indicating that someone was indeed influencing it.

"It seems we can't pass through this layer as easily as the fourth layer," Jin Liu said quietly. "What should we do? Should we go take a look?"

The one who could stir up such a massive storm must be extremely powerful, and might be the one imprisoned in this layer.

"According to our previous experience, the spatial gates are usually near the objects being imprisoned, so we must go and investigate," Su Zhen said after a moment of contemplation.

"Not bad, if we don't enter the tiger's den, how can we catch the tiger?" Han Li's eyes flashed with insight, and he nodded in agreement.

Jin Liu only hesitated for a moment, but since Su Zhen and Han Li agreed, he didn't strongly object.

The three quickly flew forward, following the spiritual energy fluctuations in the void, tracing them to their source.

As they went deeper, the winds grew stronger, and the spiritual energy fluctuations became more intense, so they didn't need to worry about losing track, and simply followed the fluctuations.

The terrain ahead changed, with more and more earthen hills and mountains forming, gradually becoming a continuous range of yellow-brown mountains.

After half an hour, the three finally found the source of the spiritual energy fluctuations.

They stood at the edge of a massive canyon, hiding their auras and gazing out.

Before them, the canyon was filled with dozens of massive white dragon-like wind columns, each hundreds of feet thick and tens of miles long, shooting up into the sky.

The wind columns contained extremely terrifying spiritual energy and law energy, almost capable of destroying the heavens and earth, and seemed to be waving about like giant tentacles, crushing and devouring everything in their path.

The ground and sky were both shaken, rumbling with thunder.

In the largest white wind column, a white figure could be faintly seen, but due to the obstruction of the wind column, their appearance couldn't be clearly discerned. The law energy within the wind column was also too intense, making it impossible to probe with their divine senses.

Before the dozens of wind columns, a group of cultivators were flying about, struggling against the winds. There were five or six of them, each displaying their divine abilities and fighting against the wind columns.

"Ah, it's them..." Han Li's eyes flashed.

The group of people were the ones they had parted ways with in the first layer, including Lei Yu Ce, Wen Zhong, a pair of young black-clothed men and women, and the young man who had appeared with Qi Mozi.

Aside from these five, there was also an unexpected person - the blue-robed youth who had escaped from Han Li's grasp.

Su Zhen and Jin Liu were also shocked, their faces filled with surprise.

The dozens of white wind columns were incredibly powerful, and Lei Yu Ce's group was being suppressed, forced to retreat step by step.

What was even more astonishing was that Han Li felt the white figure within the wind column hadn't used their full strength, seemingly toying with Lei Yu Ce's group.

"Hmph, with your strength, you think you can reach the sixth layer? You're not even worthy of being a plaything for me!" a sharp, ear-piercing voice came from within the wind column, followed by a loud laugh.

As the voice fell, the wind columns suddenly merged into one, forming a massive white wind column that engulfed the six cultivators.

The wind column was enormous, like a pillar supporting the sky, its power several times greater than before, with a momentum that seemed to change the very fabric of the world.

Lei Yu Ce's group was trapped within the wind column, their divine abilities and magical tools unable to be used, their bodies helpless against the wind's power.

Su Zhen and Jin Liu watched from a distance, their faces pale.

Lei Yu Ce was a top expert in the Golden Origin Realm, and the others were also extremely powerful, yet they were so easily trapped.

Han Li's brow furrowed, the white wind column seeming ordinary, yet containing wind attribute law energy that was incredibly powerful. Even he would find it difficult to break through.

"Wait, that's not right!"

Han Li's eyes flashed with purple light as he exclaimed.

The fifth layer's influence on their divine senses was too great, making it hard to perceive clearly. Only by using his Nine Yin Magic Eyes could he discover the secret of the white wind column.

It seemed to contain two different wind attribute law energies, perfectly merged and indistinguishable from one another.

So that's how it is. This white wind pillar is a divine ability that combines two types of law forces, no wonder it's so powerful. Han Li thought to himself.

Law fusion increases power greatly.

However, law fusion is extremely difficult to achieve. He had seen a few people use similar divine abilities during his time in the True Immortal Realm, such as Gong Shu Tian and his companions, Lan Yan and Lan Yuanzi, and even his own time law and Jiao San's reincarnation law had resonated with each other.

But the law fusion of those people was very shallow compared to the white wind pillar's law fusion.

Han Li's eyes flickered as he pondered the problem of law fusion, but he couldn't think of anything for the time being. He sighed inwardly.

Law fusion is a profound and obscure secret art, and it's naturally very rare to find records of it in ancient texts. Even if there are records, they should be in the hands of a few people, and it's unlikely that they would be widely circulated.

He had been cultivating alone for many years, and although he was free to do as he pleased, he lacked guidance and experience.

It seemed that after leaving this place, he would have to find someone to ask for guidance on law cultivation and spiritual domain cultivation. As the reincarnation son of the reincarnation hall, he should be able to find someone to guide him as long as he was willing to spend immortal stones.

"You're only this capable? You're really too weak, and it's disappointing!" Just as Han Li was thinking, the white figure inside the wind pillar spoke again, with a look of great disappointment.

Lei Yu Ce and the others heard this and their faces turned red with anger. They let out a low roar, and their auras surged as they each used their spiritual domain divine abilities.

In an instant, various spiritual domains appeared, overlapping with each other.

Especially Lei Yu Ce's golden spiritual domain, which was the most magnificent. Inside the spiritual domain, a series of golden mountains appeared, with snow-white golden sword blades inserted into the mountains, emitting a fierce and piercing sword intent.

As soon as they opened their spiritual domains, the several people's bodies stabilized, and they were no longer affected by the wind pillar's rotation.

Lei Yu Ce's face was solemn as he muttered to himself, his hands moving quickly as he formed a sword seal.

The sword seal was 10% complete, and a flash of golden light appeared on his body. In a burst of sharp whistling sounds, five or six dozen golden crystal threads shot out from his body, each emitting strong law fluctuations. These were the law crystal threads.

The golden sword blades inside Lei Yu Ce's spiritual domain seemed to be summoned, and they flew out, merging with the golden law crystal threads.

The golden crystal threads immediately changed, and in a burst of intertwining and wrapping, they transformed into five or six dozen golden giant swords, each with a different shape. Some had broad and flat blades, while others were long and slender, like needle swords. Some even had the shape of dragons or tigers.

The only thing they had in common was that each sword emitted a vast and powerful aura, with a might that could shatter the heavens.

The five or six dozen golden giant swords swam and flew around inside the spiritual domain, and although each sword emitted a powerful sword intent, they didn't conflict with each other at all. Instead, they formed a strange and wonderful sword array.

The sword array was 10% complete, and the sword energy emitted by the five or six dozen giant swords suddenly gathered together, forming a fierce and powerful sword energy that filled the entire void.

"Cut!" Lei Yu Ce's eyes flashed with a fierce light, and he pulled out his sword seal.

The sword array rotated, and each of the five or six dozen giant swords shot out a massive sword energy, cutting at the white wind pillar.

A tearing sound echoed through the air, and the white wind pillar was suddenly enlarged, with a series of cracks appearing on its surface. The cracks emitted a dazzling golden light.

Han Li, who was watching from a distance, saw the sword array's divine power and his eyes flashed with a hot light.

He had learned many sword arrays, including the Qing Pan Sword Array and the Qiu Long Sword Array, but compared to Lei Yu Ce's sword array, they were all inferior.

The Tong Tian Sword Sect was known as the number one sect in the Golden Source Immortal Realm, and it seemed that they had indeed achieved great things in the way of sword arrays.

Han Li was also surprised that Lei Yu Ce didn't use flying swords, but instead used law crystal threads to create flying swords and form a sword array, and the sword array's power was so great.

Wen Zhong saw Lei Yu Ce's sword array and a hint of envy flashed in his eyes, but he didn't idle around. He formed a seal and swung his hand.

A low humming sound echoed through the air, and four massive golden sword lights shot out from his spiritual domain.

Each sword light was over a hundred feet long, and they were inscribed with the patterns of the four mythical creatures: the Azure Dragon, the White Tiger, the Vermilion Bird, and the Black Tortoise. They emitted a fierce and powerful sword energy, although it was weaker than Lei Yu Ce's sword array.

Wen Zhong pointed forward with one hand, and the four sword lights shot out, almost simultaneously cutting down at the white wind pillar.

Lan Yan opened up a blue spiritual domain and simultaneously took out the water-blue curved scythe, using the Water Yuan Slash divine ability. A massive blue arc cut towards the white wind pillar.

Xiong Shan also used his spiritual domain divine ability, and at this critical moment, he didn't hold back. He waved his hand and took out a hundred flying swords, forming a golden sword array that was several dozen feet in diameter.

A mighty roar echoed through the air, and the golden sword array emitted a brilliant light. A golden sword dragon formed from the sword lights flew out, its jaws wide open as it pounced at the wind pillar.

The two black-robed men didn't open up their spiritual domains, and instead took out a magical artifact each. A black-robed woman took out a large white bead, on which were drawn golden patterns, and the power of the laws surged, shining brightly.

The black-robed youth, on the other hand, waved his hand and took out a treelike artifact, about a few feet long, with seven branches, each with a dark, fierce glow at the tip, emitting a bloody aura, clearly an evil and sinister tool.

As soon as the two artifacts were released, they immediately burst into light, transforming into a black and white pair of shooting stars, fiercely striking the wind column.

These people's divine abilities were not small, and when they joined forces, the cracks on the white wind column suddenly expanded again, with a hint of collapse.

"Tsk, tsk, the Heavenly Sword Array is indeed extraordinary! However, you have limited understanding of the laws, and the threads of the laws are insufficient, so you cannot fully master this sword array. You want to break my 'Heavenly Wind Column'? Look at this!" a sharp voice laughed.

Before the laughter had faded, the white wind column flashed with light, and a white spiritual domain appeared, rapidly expanding in all directions.

This spiritual domain was filled with countless white clouds, changing unpredictably, giving a sense of being unable to grasp, yet also covering the entire sky, as if encompassing all the winds and clouds of the heavens.

The white spiritual domain was extremely vast, far surpassing the spiritual domains of Lei Yuze and the others, instantly enveloping their domains.

The group suddenly felt a sinking sensation, as if their bodies had fallen into a bottomless pit, and it was extremely difficult to move. Their spiritual domains were also severely disrupted by a massive force of the laws.

At the same time, nearly a hundred white crystal threads shot out from the white spiritual domain, merging into the white wind column.

The white wind column suddenly brightened, and the broken area was instantly repaired, becoming even thicker, once again firmly trapping the group.

From a distance, the three people saw this scene, and their faces changed, especially Su Zhongyan's eyes, which were fixed on the white wind column, her lips pursed, and a hint of worry flashed in her eyes, as if she was worried about someone.

"Unexpectedly, the opponent is so powerful. It seems that Lei Yuze and the others are no match for them. Should we intervene?" Jing Liu looked at Su Zhongyan and Han Li.

"We may not have a deep relationship with Lei Yuze and the others, but we are fellow travelers. Let's rescue them. If we just stand by and watch, they will fall, and our own situation will be precarious." Su Zhongyan said, looking at Han Li.

On this journey, Han Li's strength and judgment had already amazed her, and she had begun to regard him as the core of their group, especially at critical moments.

Jing Liu, although unwilling, also looked at Han Li.

"Sister Su is right, we are all in this together, sharing the same fate." Han Li nodded.

The three people had made up their minds, and their figures simultaneously became blurry, disappearing into thin air.

At this moment, inside the white wind column, Lei Yuze's face was unsightly, his eyes flashing with a hint of desperation, and his face turned blood-red.

He shouted loudly, his hands flying quickly to form a seal, and a golden light flashed on his forehead, as a golden infant the size of a palm appeared.

The infant's small hands moved, and a golden, blood-like substance was spat out, containing a powerful force of the laws, merging with the surrounding golden spiritual domain.

Lei Yuze's face, which had turned blood-red, suddenly became pale, and his skin was covered in wrinkles, as if he had aged greatly.

However, the golden spiritual domain around him suddenly brightened, and the Heavenly Sword Array flashed with light, as all the giant swords flew back, surrounding his body and rapidly spinning.

A loud explosion sounded, and a massive sword intent burst forth from Lei Yuze's body, a golden, illusory giant sword appearing, with two intricate bird-like characters on it, its sword energy rising fiercely, as if about to break through the heavens.

The void around the giant sword was shattered, and the sound of "chi la" echoed through the air, as if the void was being torn apart.

"Slash!"

Lei Yuze's hands moved, and the giant sword shot out, slashing towards the white wind column.

Wherever the sword passed, the void was torn apart, as if it was made of paper.

"Ah, you've actually grasped the Heavenly Sword Array to this extent. However, your cultivation is too weak, and I'll break it!" a sharp voice from within the wind column responded, with a hint of solemnity.

As the voice faded, a loud, piercing sound echoed through the air, and a white hoof, the size of a house, appeared out of thin air.

A sharp whistling sound followed, and over a hundred white crystal threads emerged from the spiritual domain, merging into the white hoof.

The originally blurry white hoof suddenly became clear, and a massive white horse's hoof stomped down fiercely.

A thunderous sound!

The white horse's hoof struck the ground, causing the space in front of it to ripple like the surface of water, and then a loud "crack" sounded as a massive spatial rift opened up.

The horse's hoof didn't stop, and it directly pierced through the rift, landing heavily on the tip of the illusory giant sword.

A thunderous sound shook the heavens!

The white horse's hoof and the illusory giant sword collided, causing a massive shockwave that rippled through the air, and the entire void trembled. Cracks appeared in the surrounding space, flashing and disappearing in a rapid succession.

The horse's hoof was pierced and shattered by the illusory giant sword, but the sword itself also shattered into countless golden threads that scattered in all directions.

The white wind column was affected by the shockwave, causing it to violently shake and develop cracks.

However, the horse's hoof was shattered, and the over 100 law threads that had been hidden within emerged, unscathed and shining brightly.

The law threads moved, seeking to converge with the white wind column.

At that moment, two blue spirit domains appeared out of thin air, enveloping everything within.

As the spirit domains appeared, a massive blue ice sword and a blue fist the size of a small mountain appeared beside the white wind column, striking it simultaneously.

The white wind column shook violently, its cracks expanding, but it did not shatter.

"Ha ha, you two think you can hide and sneak up on me? You think you can break my divine ability? Come out and face me!" a sharp voice laughed maniacally, as the white spirit domain's light churned and condensed into a massive white hand that reached out to grab something.

A thunderous sound echoed through the air!

The area where the hand grasped suddenly erupted in a blinding blue light, and two figures stumbled out, revealing Su Zhen and Jing Liu, who were caught by the white hand.

But at that moment, the white wind column's surroundings flashed again, and a massive golden finger shadow descended from the heavens, radiating an aura that could pierce through everything. The finger tip emitted golden sparks that were not lightning, but rather the distortions of the void caused by the golden finger's aura.

The golden finger shadow struck the white wind column, causing it to flash white and desperately resist, but ultimately, it was pierced through, creating a massive hole.

The white wind column's light flashed wildly, and then it shattered with a deafening sound, dispersing into nothingness.

Lei Yu and the others, witnessing this scene, were shocked and delighted, and they quickly flew out of the white spirit domain, joining forces to break through the barrier.

"Time laws! Who dares to break my divine ability? If you dare to act, why hide and not show yourself?" the sharp voice shouted, its gaze sweeping the surroundings.

"I've been standing here all along, but you didn't notice," a voice replied, as a figure emerged from the void outside the white spirit domain. Han Li, with a hint of a smile, said, "I've been standing here, but you didn't notice."

He had spent nearly a day recovering, and his divine abilities, including the True Word Treasure Wheel, had partially recovered.

When he approached the area, Han Li had used the "Myriad Void Silence Technique" and the "Great Five Elements Illusory World Technique" to hide his presence, avoiding the white figure's detection. He then used the "Heavenly Finger Technique" to destroy the white wind column.

The white figure was shocked to see Han Li appear out of nowhere, without any warning, and its divine sense had not detected him. Its heart skipped a beat.

In that moment of surprise, the white figure's divine sense wavered, and the white hand holding Su Zhen and Jing Liu hesitated.

Su Zhen and Jing Liu immediately seized the opportunity, their bodies twisting and turning into two distorted blue lights that broke free from the white hand's grasp and flew towards Han Li.

The white figure's anger grew as it realized it had been outmaneuvered, and without hesitation, it raised its hand to strike.

The white hand shot out like a meteor, almost instantly catching up to Su Zhen and Jing Liu, and was about to grab them.

The white hand's light surged, and a terrifying aura that could crush the void itself descended, enveloping Su Zhen and Jing Liu, causing their fleeing bodies to slow down.

But at that moment, the void in front of them fluctuated, and a massive golden fist shadow emerged, radiating a powerful aura that could shatter the void. The fist shadow collided with the white hand, causing a massive shockwave that shattered both the hand and the fist.

The sound of the collision was deafening, and the surrounding void trembled violently, developing cracks.

Han Li's body was shaken, and he stumbled backward.

The white figure's body also shook, and the white hand was shattered, releasing Su Zhen and Jing Liu from its grasp. They quickly flew towards Han Li, arriving by his side in an instant. At the same time, Lei Yu Ce and the others flew over, joining Han Li, Su Zhan Cai, and Jin Liu.

"Su Dao friend, Jin Dao friend, Shi Dao friend, you've all arrived, thank you for your help earlier." Lei Yu Ce's pale face regained some color, and he bowed to Su Zhan Cai, Jin Liu, and Han Li.

Although he spoke to the two, his gaze remained fixed on Su Zhan Cai, gentle as water.

"The one who rescued you wasn't me and Jin Liu, but Shi Dao friend, so you should thank him instead." Su Zhan Cai avoided Lei Yu Ce's passionate gaze, speaking calmly.

"Shi Dao friend, thank you for saving us." Lei Yu Ce looked at Han Li, his face flashing with surprise, and thanked him again.

The others, upon hearing this, were also filled with surprise, but still thanked Han Li one by one.

Only Lan Yan, who had already known Han Li's strength, wasn't surprised, his face expressionless, with a mixture of anger, fear, and wariness.

Han Li nodded slightly to Lei Yu Ce and the others, ignoring Lan Yan's reaction, his gaze never leaving the white figure.

Although he had unexpectedly broken through the white wind pillar, the white figure's strength was immense, and he didn't dare to relax.

Fortunately, Lei Yu Ce and the others had escaped, and with everyone's combined strength, the situation had turned around.

"Not bad, not bad, it's finally come to someone with some strength, not in vain for old ancestor to run this errand." The white figure fell silent for a moment, then burst out laughing.

As the laughter faded, the scattered white crystal threads flew back into its body, and the wind pillar around it suddenly stopped, disappearing without a trace, revealing the figure inside – a white jade horse, its body pure white, with a tuft of white horsehair on its back, looking exceptionally majestic.

The white horse stood up on its hind legs, using its front legs to gesture, one holding a green smoke pipe, and the other holding a... thing, its mouth exhaling clouds of smoke.

Han Li and the others were shocked when they saw the figure.

"May I ask your name?" Han Li was initially surprised, but quickly regained his composure, his gaze scanning the white horse's mane, and asked.

"Ah, really blind, not recognizing old ancestor! Remember, old ancestor is Li Qi Ma! Young one, your skills aren't bad, cultivating the time law, and your physical body is quite strong, very much to old ancestor's taste, come, let's have a great battle of three hundred rounds!" Li Qi Ma's eyes gleamed with battle intent, putting down the smoke pipe, and prepared to charge forward.

However, just as he was about to attack, his gaze suddenly flashed, and he let out a soft hum, stopping in his tracks.

The white spiritual domain around Li Qi Ma flashed and disappeared, his body glowing white, transforming into a beam of white light that shot towards the distance, disappearing in an instant.

Han Li had been prepared to fight, but Li Qi Ma suddenly said goodbye and left, leaving him bewildered.

The others were also confused, unsure of what to make of the situation.

But Li Qi Ma's strength was immense, and his sudden departure was a good thing.

Especially since Lei Yu Ce and the others had been fighting Li Qi Ma until now, their spiritual energy was almost depleted, and they needed time to recover, so they took out medicine to replenish their energy.

"Suzi friends, when did you arrive here?" Lei Yu Ce asked Su Zhan Cai after a brief moment of meditation, suppressing the injuries from his earlier battle.

Su Zhan Cai gazed into the distance, seemingly unaware of Lei Yu Ce's question, while Han Li's face was contemplative, as if considering something, and didn't speak.

Jin Liu, seeing this, stepped forward to take the conversation, summarizing their journey to this point, but omitted some sensitive information, such as the beehive they had encountered, and his use of the space treasure to hide other Tian Shui sect disciples, keeping those details hidden.

Han Li listened to Jin Liu's words, his heart stirring, and glanced at him.

The beehive incident was one thing, but Jin Liu's use of the space treasure to hide other disciples was unusual, and Han Li suspected there was more to it, so he used his eyes to probe.

Jin Liu noticed Han Li's gaze and immediately looked away, a faint warning in his eyes.

Han Li's probing had yielded results, and he felt a slight chill, but didn't expose the truth, instead looking away.

Jin Liu saw this and relaxed, continuing to chat with Lei Yu Ce, and asked about their journey.

Lei Yu Ce recounted their journey, which was similar to theirs, with many dangers along the way, and a gradual loss of companions, including some who had disappeared under mysterious circumstances, until only the five of them remained.

Without a way to retreat, and with a sense of discontent, they decided to continue forward, hoping to find a glimmer of hope, or perhaps some opportunities.

Just half a day ago, they had encountered Lan Yan, who was traveling alone, and joined forces, only to be ambushed by Li Qi Ma, and thus they had been fighting until now.

"It seems that no matter which path we take, the ancient tower is extremely treacherous. When we first entered the tower, there were hundreds of us, and now only a few remain." Jin Liu's expression was skeptical, but he didn't press the issue, since he too had hidden many things, and instead wore a look of sorrow, sighing.

Lei Yu Ce and the others heard this, their faces also filled with a mix of emotions, but it was unclear how much of it was genuine.

Jin Li, that Li Qima is a strange and eccentric person, although he suddenly left, it's hard to say if he won't come back again. Since we're all gathered here, let's work together from now on and explore this Time Tower together," Jin Li quickly put away his sorrowful expression and began to discuss their next course of action.

"Of course, I, Lei Yu, am more than happy to follow your lead, Jin Li, Shi Li, and Su Li, please guide us," Lei Yu exclaimed, glancing at Su Zhenzhen with a hint of excitement in his eyes.

Lei Yu's companions had just witnessed the strength displayed by Jin Li and his friends, especially Han Li's exceptional cultivation, and naturally had no objections to merging their groups, nodding in agreement.

Lan Yan, although not wanting to travel with Han Li, was a single person with little influence, and speaking out against it would only make her the target of criticism, so she remained silent.

"Lei Yu, you're too kind, this place is not safe to stay for long, let's set off immediately," Jin Li smiled and said.

After a brief rest, everyone's energy had recovered somewhat, and they set off at once, flying forward.

Without Li Qima's divine power influencing the area, the howling winds had weakened significantly and no longer hindered their flight.

However, the group was cautious, fearing Li Qima's reappearance, and didn't dare to fly at full speed, reducing their speed to about half, in case of unexpected situations.

"Lei Yu, since you arrived at this layer before us, have you discovered the location of the space gate leading to the next layer?" Su Zhenzhen suddenly asked Lei Yu while they were flying.

"Actually, we also just arrived recently and haven't had a chance to thoroughly explore, we encountered Li Qima and were entangled with him until just now, so we're not too familiar with this layer," Lei Yu hastily replied.

Su Zhenzhen responded with a simple "oh" and didn't ask any further questions.

Su Zhenzhen rarely spoke to him, and Lei Yu was secretly delighted, wanting to continue the conversation.

"Lei Yu, do you know anything about that Li Qima?" Han Li suddenly flew over and interrupted, asking.

"What do you mean, Shi Li?" Lei Yu's attempt to chat was cut short, and he felt a slight annoyance, but didn't show it, asking.

"Lei Yu, you should have realized that this Time Tower is the place where the Taishang Xianjun imprisoned the demonic beasts, and Li Qima is likely the demonic beast imprisoned on this layer. You fought with him for a long time and had some conversations, surely he revealed some information?" Han Li didn't notice Lei Yu's annoyance and continued.

"That... we did fight with Li Qima for a long time, and we did have some conversations, but he didn't mention his identity, however, judging by his strength, he's likely the demonic beast imprisoned on this layer," Lei Yu hesitated before responding.

He maintained a calm expression, but in his heart, he felt a surge of regret.

Earlier, when they were battling Li Qima, they were too focused on fighting and didn't pay attention to his attempts to converse, if only they had been more attentive, they might have gathered valuable information.

Of course, Lei Yu wouldn't reveal this to Su Zhenzhen, lest he became the laughing stock.

Han Li listened to Lei Yu's response, his face flashing with a hint of skepticism, and didn't say anything further.

The group continued on in silence, flying forward for a while.

"Shi Li, do you think Lei Yu's guess was incorrect?" Su Zhenzhen suddenly asked Han Li in a whisper.

"Do you remember the white hair we found on the fourth layer?" Han Li replied in a whisper.

"That white hair and Li Qima's mane are quite similar," Su Zhenzhen, being intelligent, immediately grasped Han Li's meaning.

"It's not just similar, they're definitely the same. Although I don't know why Li Qima's mane was on the fourth layer, it's better not to assume that there's only one powerful prisoner on this layer," Han Li smiled faintly.

Su Zhenzhen's eyes sparkled, and she nodded slowly.

Lei Yu noticed Han Li and Su Zhenzhen's whispering and felt a spark of anger, but quickly suppressed it.

The group flew forward for a while, and Jin Li, who was at the front, suddenly let out a soft exclamation and stopped.

The others followed his gaze and saw a massive mountain peak in the distance, divided into two parts, both circular in shape, resembling a giant gourd.

At the base of the mountain was a group of dark green and black palaces, stretching across 20-30 acres of land, with a layout similar to the palace groups they had encountered on the previous layers.

If they weren't mistaken, the space gate leading to the next layer should be inside these palaces.

Everyone had the same thought, but no one immediately went down.

According to reason, if the space gate was indeed here, Li Qima was likely to be here as well, and no one wanted to provoke him.

"Li Qima may have taken advantage of our split groups earlier, but we still managed to force him to retreat, and now that we're all together, even if we encounter him again, I believe we can gain the upper hand. Besides, I sense that there are treasures hidden within the palaces below, let's go down and take a look," Lei Yu said loudly.

Hearing Lei Yu's analysis, the others felt a bit more at ease, and the promise of treasures within the palaces made them even more eager to explore. Under Lei Yu's lead, they flew down towards the palaces.

Han Li followed the group, landing in front of the outermost palace, which had a large, open gate with a bronze-colored plaque bearing the inscription "Ming Xin Palace" in golden letters. As soon as they landed on the ground, his face changed slightly.

This palace was filled with a powerful restriction, and the empty space in front of the gate was also shrouded in it. This restriction had no effect on their cultivation, but their divine sense was greatly restricted.

With Han Li's powerful divine sense, he could only leave his body for less than a hundred feet.

Others also discovered this situation, and their expressions changed.

"It's just a restriction, don't be alarmed, let's go." Lei Yu Ce was also secretly shocked, but he had already spoken boldly, and couldn't take it back, so he had to pretend to be brave and stepped into the palace first.

However, he waved his hand and took out a golden bowl-shaped immortal artifact, which floated above his head, and golden light fell from it, covering his body.

Others saw this and also took out their immortal artifacts to protect themselves, then followed Lei Yu Ce into the palace.

The outermost palace was empty, except for a few pillars, there was nothing else.

The group didn't stay there, and soon walked out of the palace from a side door, heading deeper into the palace.

There were many palaces in this palace, and the group was worried that Li Qi Ma might be hiding in one of them, so they didn't dare to split up and search. Their speed was relatively slow.

Half a day passed, and they had only searched a small part of the palace.

Fortunately, they found some treasures in the palaces, and although they didn't feel bored, they didn't feel anxious either.

As they walked, there was no danger, and the group, although not careless, had relaxed their tense atmosphere.

The group walked through a long corridor and came to a palace.

This palace was much larger than the previous ones, and it was decorated with carvings of dragons and phoenixes, and the edges of the eaves had exquisite reliefs, looking like an extraordinary place.

Han Li and the others had gained a lot of benefits along the way, and their mood was quite excited. Seeing the palace in front of them, their eyes lit up.

The main gate of the palace was also open, and the group immediately wanted to enter.

But just as they were about to enter, a "hiss" sound suddenly came from around the palace, and blue light appeared, forming a blue light screen in front of the gate, blocking their way.

"Hmph!" Lei Yu Ce saw this scene, snorted coldly, and immediately snapped his fingers.

A dazzling golden light shot out from his hand, and it was a golden flying sword, its body curved like a golden snake. It looked quite extraordinary.

The golden snake flying sword flashed and turned into a golden light about a dozen feet long, slashing fiercely at the blue light screen.

The blue light screen was hit, and suddenly burst out with a dazzling blue light, making a sound like rushing water, and actually blocked the golden light.

Lei Yu Ce's attack was blocked so easily, and he felt a bit embarrassed, so he flicked his sleeve and shouted.

Six golden lights shot out from his sleeve, and they were six golden curved knives, striking the blue light screen.

The golden snake flying sword also flew out again, slashing down.

"Everyone, let's work together to break this restriction!" Wen Zhong shouted, waving his hand and shooting out a golden rainbow, striking the blue light screen.

Others heard his voice and also took out their immortal artifacts to attack.

For a moment, the immortal artifacts bombarded the blue light screen, and the colors intertwined, flashing wildly, and the blue light screen was submerged in it.

Only a dull "boom" sound came from inside, and the blue light screen finally couldn't withstand the attacks, and was broken.

The group withdrew their immortal artifacts and entered the palace.

Han Li looked at the open gate, and his brow furrowed slightly, and a faint sense of unease rose in his heart.

But this feeling only lasted for a moment, and then disappeared, and he didn't know if it was just his own tension causing a false alarm.

Han Li shook his head, dismissed the distracting thoughts, and followed the group into the palace.

The palace was quite large, with a space of about 40-50 feet in diameter, and it was quite empty, except for some stone pillars, and a long stone table in the deepest part of the palace, where a golden plaque was placed, with a line of flower-like characters written on it, which Han Li didn't recognize.

Except for the plaque, the stone table was also placed with many things, which made the group's eyes light up.

...

There were nine items on the stone table, all of which were spiritual materials, emitting astonishing aura fluctuations.

"That black lotus is the You Shui Xian Lotus! One of the top ten Xian lotus in the True Immortal Realm, consuming it will not only greatly improve one's cultivation, but also transform one's physical body into a You Shui Xian body, making it ten times easier to comprehend the water attribute laws."

"That is the Tian Jin Drill! The legendary gold attribute treasure, using it to forge a Xian instrument can destroy anything!"

"I'm not mistaken, that blue bottle contains the Xuan Zhen Essence, so pure and numerous, enough for two people to advance to the Da Luo stage!"

"There's also that..."

Everyone stared at the items on the stone table, initially stunned, then suddenly chaotic, as those who recognized the items couldn't help but exclaim in shock.

Han Li glanced at the items on the stone table, a hint of fervor flashing in his eyes, but then he looked at the walls and floor around the table, his brow furrowed.

Jing Liu fixed his gaze on the You Shui Xian Lotus and the Tian Jin Drill, his eyes burning with desire, as he took a large step forward.

"Jing Dao friend, wait!" A figure suddenly appeared in front of him, blocking his path, it was Han Li.

"Stone Dao friend, what are you doing?" Jing Liu thought Han Li was trying to snatch the You Shui Xian Lotus from him, his face darkening as he shouted, his body ready to pounce.

"Take a look at the situation around the stone table." Han Li said calmly.

Jing Liu's expression changed as he looked around, his face pale.

The walls around the stone table were engraved with seven dark red patterns, each about a foot in size, with coarse lines and worn edges, revealing a hint of desolation.

The seven patterns depicted seven deities, but they didn't seem to be orthodox gods, instead, they were strange and eerie, with three heads and six arms, or human bodies with beast heads, exuding an aura of evil and ferocity, likely being evil gods.

The seven patterns were arranged in a specific order on the walls and floor, but the dark red patterns were quite faint, and the materials used for the walls were also reddish, making them hard to notice.

Others who had been eager to act also stopped, looking around, and soon discovered the patterns on the walls.

"It seems to be some kind of forbidden array." Wen Zhong examined the patterns carefully, muttering to himself.

The others looked at each other, unsure of what to do, seemingly not recognizing the array.

"I think it's better to try and see what happens, rather than making wild guesses." Jing Liu said, raising his hand.

"Jing Liu, don't be impulsive." Su Zhen Qian tried to stop Jing Liu, but it was too late.

A blue light shot out from Jing Liu's sleeve, heading towards the stone table.

As the blue light approached the table, the seven patterns suddenly burst into light, emitting a blood-red glow that condensed into a blood-colored screen.

At the same time, the screen rippled, and a massive head appeared, one of the seven evil god patterns, its mouth open wide, swallowing the blue light.

The evil god head devoured the blue light, but didn't immediately disappear, instead, it roared at Han Li and the others, as if trying to break free from the blood-colored screen's restraints and devour them.

A ferocious and violent intent erupted from the evil god head, transmitting into the minds of the onlookers!

Everyone's vision turned red, their minds filled with a vision of skulls piled high, blood flowing like rivers, and a desolate landscape, as an endless wave of killing intent assaulted their souls!

Fortunately, the cultivators present were extremely powerful, and their souls were strong, allowing them to quickly dispel the killing intent.

The evil god head roared again, but ultimately couldn't break free from the blood-colored screen's restraints, disappearing into the screen, which then flashed twice and vanished.

Han Li watched the scene unfold, his eyes flickering slightly.

Although he didn't recognize the blood-colored array, he had sensed some clues, the array seemed to be a blood path array, similar to the Qi Lian Kong's tears of blood array, but with more deadly variations.

As for how to break it, he was stumped.

"This is a formidable evil array, it seems we'll need to put in some effort to obtain the treasures inside." Lei Yu Ce muttered.

"Hmph! Who cares about the array? With so many of us working together, we can't fail to break it." Jing Liu sneered, his eyes fixed on the treasures on the stone table, filled with greed.

Jing Liu's method of breaking the array was crude, but the others nodded in agreement.

This method was the simplest, and they didn't have much time to waste.

Han Li's brow furrowed as he listened.

Although he hadn't seen through the blood-colored array, using brute force to break it might not work.

"If you want to obtain the treasures inside, it's best not to use brute force to break the array." A voice suddenly spoke up, it was Lan Yan, who had been silent until now. The others were shocked by the words and looked at Lan Yan.

"Lan fellow, what do you mean by this? Do you recognize this array?" Lei Yu Ce's face lit up with excitement as he asked.

"I do, I've studied array formations and saw records of this array in an ancient book. This array is called the Seven Kill Blood God Array, a blood path array that contains the power of the seven evil gods. If you don't understand the method, using brute force to break it will cause the seven evil gods' power to collide and self-destruct. I don't know how powerful the explosion will be, but it will definitely destroy the treasures inside." Lan Yan said calmly.

Han Li's eyebrows rose, and a hint of surprise flashed in his eyes.

The others' expressions changed upon hearing this.

Jin Liu's face turned even darker, and he was about to make a rash decision.

It wasn't surprising, as the You Shui Xian Lian was extremely compatible with his cultivation method. If he could obtain it, he would have the confidence to break through his current bottleneck.

The Tian Jin Drilling was also something he had been searching for, and it had great use for him. Earlier, Han Li and the others had entered the golden gate first, where the golden attribute yuan qi was extremely dense, and it was possible that one or two Tian Jin Drilling could be cultivated.

He had suspected that Han Li had the treasure on him, and now he had encountered it here.

"Lan fellow, since you recognize this array, I suppose you also know the method to break it? Please, don't hesitate to teach us." Lei Yu Ce looked at Lan Yan and said sincerely.

"Lan fellow, you want me to help you for free?" Lan Yan smiled slightly and said.

"Lan fellow, do you want some compensation? Alright, after breaking the array, Lan fellow can choose one of the treasures as compensation, how about that?" Lei Yu Ce hesitated for a moment before saying.

The others also wanted the treasures inside, and upon hearing this, their expressions changed, but they didn't say anything.

"I can help you break the Seven Kill Blood God Array, but I don't want the treasures inside. Instead, I want to exchange for something else." Lan Yan said, then glanced at Han Li.

Han Li noticed Lan Yan's actions and his expression remained unchanged.

"Oh, Lan fellow, what do you want to exchange for?" Lei Yu Ce was stunned again and asked.

"I want Stone fellow to release my brother." Lan Yan looked at Han Li and said slowly.

"Your brother..." Lei Yu Ce's face moved, and the image of Lan Yuanzi appeared in his mind. He then looked at Han Li.

The others heard Lan Yan's words and also looked at Han Li.

Han Li immediately understood Lan Yan's intentions, using the opportunity to borrow the power of the group to force him to hand over Lan Yuanzi. It was a clever move.

He secretly sneered, but didn't speak, standing aside with his hands behind his back, feeling a bit strange. How did Lan Yan know that he hadn't killed Lan Yuanzi, but instead had imprisoned him?

"Stone fellow, is Lan fellow's brother in your hands?" Lei Yu Ce looked at Han Li and asked.

"Yes, Lan fellow and her brother teamed up against me, and I captured and imprisoned him." Han Li's eyes narrowed, and he said calmly.

Su Qian had guessed that Lan Yan and Han Li had a conflict earlier, and now that she heard Han Li's words, she thought to herself that it was indeed the case.

She then looked at Han Li and Lan Yan, her eyes darting back and forth, thinking of something.

Lei Yu Ce had guessed that there was a conflict between the three, but he didn't expect it to be so intense. He felt a bit heavy-hearted.

"Lei Yu Ce doesn't know what grudges you three have, but now that we're all in this together, we need to work together to progress. Stone fellow, can you release Lan fellow's brother?" He thought to himself, but his face was sincere as he spoke to Han Li, taking on a mediating tone.

"Lei fellow, I have a deep grudge against them, and I won't let it go. If I release his brother, they'll just attack me again." Han Li replied coldly.

"Lan fellow, what do you say?" Lei Yu Ce thought that Han Li's words had some reason to them, and he frowned, turning to Lan Yan.

"As long as Stone fellow releases my brother, I can swear that I won't attack Stone fellow in this secret realm, and Stone fellow's strength far surpasses mine and my brother's. We wouldn't dare do something so foolish." Lan Yan said immediately.

"Oaths are something that Stone doesn't believe in. Even if you swear with your heart demon, there are ways to break it. Stone won't put his safety in someone else's hands. This matter is not to be mentioned again." Han Li shook his head.

Although he had defeated Lan Yuanzi and Lan Yan earlier, he still felt that the Jiuyuan Guan's pursuit of him was not over. He had a sense of unease in his heart, which was why he had captured Lan Yuanzi instead of killing him.

With Lan Yuanzi as a trump card, Lan Yan would not dare to do anything to him, so why would he hand him over?

"Stone fellow, Lan fellow has said that she won't attack you, and you're still holding onto past grudges. As a man, you're being too petty. Furthermore, we're putting aside our grudges and working together, but you're going against what we said earlier." Jin Liu was eager to break the seal and, coupled with his dislike for Han Li, naturally sided with Lan Yan, putting pressure on Han Li.

Han Li's eyebrows furrowed, and a hint of coldness flashed in his eyes.

He had saved Jin Liu earlier, but the other didn't show any gratitude. Instead, he was so selfish and ungrateful, which was truly despicable.

Su Qian had been guessing that Lan Yan and Han Li had a conflict earlier, and now that she heard Han Li's words, she thought to herself that it was indeed the case.

She then looked at Han Li and Lan Yan, her eyes darting back and forth, thinking of something.

Lei Yu Ce had guessed that there was a conflict between the three, but he didn't expect it to be so intense. He felt a bit heavy-hearted.

"Lei Yu Ce doesn't know what grudges you three have, but now that we're all in this together, we need to work together to progress. Stone fellow, can you release Lan fellow's brother?" He thought to himself, but his face was sincere as he spoke to Han Li, taking on a mediating tone.

"Lei fellow, I have a deep grudge against them, and I won't let it go. If I release his brother, they'll just attack me again." Han Li replied coldly.

"Lan fellow, what do you say?" Lei Yu Ce thought that Han Li's words had some reason to them, and he frowned, turning to Lan Yan.

"As long as Stone fellow releases my brother, I can swear that I won't attack Stone fellow in this secret realm, and Stone fellow's strength far surpasses mine and my brother's. We wouldn't dare do something so foolish." Lan Yan said immediately.

"Oaths are something that Stone doesn't believe in. Even if you swear with your heart demon, there are ways to break it. Stone won't put his safety in someone else's hands. This matter is not to be mentioned again." Han Li shook his head.

Although he had defeated Lan Yuanzi and Lan Yan earlier, he still felt that the Jiuyuan Guan's pursuit of him was not over. He had a sense of unease in his heart, which was why he had captured Lan Yuanzi instead of killing him.

With Lan Yuanzi as a trump card, Lan Yan would not dare to do anything to him, so why would he hand him over?

"Stone fellow, Lan fellow has said that she won't attack you, and you're still holding onto past grudges. As a man, you're being too petty. Furthermore, we're putting aside our grudges and working together, but you're going against what we said earlier." Jin Liu was eager to break the seal and, coupled with his dislike for Han Li, naturally sided with Lan Yan, putting pressure on Han Li.

Han Li's eyebrows furrowed, and a hint of coldness flashed in his eyes.

He had saved Jin Liu earlier, but the other didn't show any gratitude. Instead, he was so selfish and ungrateful, which was truly despicable.

Han Li's eyes flashed as he spoke in a calm tone, "According to your meaning, Brother Jin, you want to disregard my safety and force me to submit?"

Jin Liu's expression turned cold as he replied, "Leave the outside matters to be settled outside, this Years Tower can't be delayed. Besides, with us present, do you still think someone would dare to make a move against you?"

Han Li's tone was equally unpleasant as he responded, "If that's the case, then let's part ways. You take your Yangguan Road, and I'll take my solitary path. If you want to use force, then come and try, I'll accompany you."

Lei Yuze, seeing Han Li's displeasure, quickly intervened, "Brother Shi, please don't be angry. According to your account, this is indeed a difficult task. How about this: if you're willing to make some concessions, release Blue's senior brother, and after breaking the seal, you can choose the treasures inside second?"

Wen Zhong and the others also chimed in, trying to persuade Han Li, clearly intimidated by his display of strength earlier.

Han Li paused for a moment before responding, "Since everyone agrees, then fine. I can release your senior brother, but I don't want the treasures inside. Instead, I want to exchange for something else."

Lei Yuze's eyes lit up as he asked, "What do you want to exchange for, Brother Shi?"

"You want me to release your senior brother," Han Li turned to Blue, "then bring me a fire-aging cicada's nest in exchange."

Jin Liu's face stiffened upon hearing this.

"A fire-aging cicada's nest... what's that?" Blue asked, perplexed.

"You don't have it, but that doesn't mean someone else doesn't," Han Li smiled faintly, his eyes glinting with amusement.

Jin Liu's anger boiled over, and he shouted, "Shi Mou, what do you mean?!"

Han Li shrugged, "Just proposing a condition. You all said you'd make sacrifices for the greater good, and I've already made concessions. As for you, Brother Jin, with your noble awareness, surely you won't be stingy about a mere material?"

Jin Liu was taken aback by Han Li's retort, and he glared at him, speechless.

Blue, seeing Han Li's willingness to compromise, quickly approached Jin Liu and asked, "Brother Jin, do you really have the fire-aging cicada's nest? Could you please spare it for me? I'll use xian yuan stones or other precious materials to exchange for it."

Lei Yuze also stepped forward, "Brother Jin, please help us out for the sake of breaking the seal."

Jin Liu's expression turned icy, but he soon seemed to have an idea, and his face relaxed.

"I can give you the fire-aging cicada's nest," Jin Liu said with a faint smile, "but instead of using xian yuan stones or other materials, I'll let Blue choose the treasures first after breaking the seal. That's all I want."

The fire-aging cicada's nest was precious, but the treasures behind the seal were even more valuable to him.

"Alright," Lei Yuze agreed, exchanging a glance with the others.

Han Li, seeing the matter settled, waved his hand, and a silver light flashed, revealing Blue's senior brother, who was still unconscious.

"Senior brother!" Blue rushed over, embracing him.

She and her senior brother were cultivating a fusion of divine techniques, and although they hadn't yet succeeded, they had already developed a special connection, allowing them to sense each other's life and death.

Blue was overjoyed to see her senior brother, but she quickly regained control of her emotions, waving her hand to release a blue light that examined her senior brother's condition.

Han Li ignored Blue and her senior brother, approaching Jin Liu instead.

Jin Liu snorted, waving his hand, and a dark red light flashed, revealing the fire-aging cicada's nest, which pulsed with powerful time law fluctuations.

Except for Su Shuang and Jin Liu, the others were seeing the fire-aging cicada's nest for the first time, and they were all amazed by its immense time law power.

Jin Liu deliberately slowed down his movements, allowing the others to get a good look at the nest.

"Thank you," Han Li said, his eyes glinting with amusement, as he took the nest.

Now that he had all three nests, he could refine them into time law crystals, greatly increasing his time law power. He would be able to use the powerful divine technique that had repelled Qiemozi earlier.

As he thought about the technique's power, Han Li's heart grew hot, and a strong desire arose: to refine the nests immediately and use the technique.

He glanced around, his eyes falling on a side door near the main hall. He was about to step forward when Blue's voice interrupted him.

"Hey, why is my senior brother still unconscious? What did you do to him?"

Han Li's expression remained calm as he replied, "I didn't do anything to him. He's just exhausted."

Blue's eyes narrowed, but before she could press the issue, Han Li flicked his wrist, and a golden light shot out, disappearing into Blue's senior brother's body.

The senior brother's eyes flickered open, and he slowly sat up.

"Senior brother, are you okay?" Blue asked, relief etched on her face.

Han Li's eyes gleamed with amusement as he watched Blue and her senior brother reunite. Lan Yanzu looked at Lan Yan with a weak expression and said, "Sister, what's going on..."

After Han Li finished his actions, he ignored the Lan siblings and walked towards the side door.

"Stone friend, where are you going?" Su Zhonglian asked hastily as she stood beside him.

"I have some things to take care of, I'll be leaving for a bit. You all can divide the treasures in the formation, don't worry about me." Han Li said calmly and quickly walked to the side door, pushing it open and entering.

The side door led to a small, empty hall with no decorations.

Han Li scanned the area with his divine sense and nodded, then waved his hands.

Multiple colored lights shot out from his sleeves, landing in different parts of the hall.

The others in the main hall saw Han Li leave and changed their expressions, but soon realized he had only gone to the side hall and not left for real. They all let out a sigh of relief.

Han Li's current strength and cultivation had become indispensable in the current situation. If he were to leave, the others wouldn't have the confidence to deal with Li Qiema.

On the edge of the crowd, Xiong Shan and the black-robed couple stood silently, their cultivations being too low to be noticed by the others.

"Is this the place?" the black-robed woman whispered to the black-robed youth beside her.

"It's definitely here," the youth replied, his eyes closed in concentration. He opened them, and a hint of excitement flashed in his eyes.

"Don't get too excited, I heard what you're planning to do isn't easy. Are you sure you can do it?" the black-robed woman asked.

"I wouldn't have come here if I didn't have confidence," the youth replied, his voice laced with dissatisfaction.

The black-robed woman chuckled and said, "That's good, because if you die here, I'll be in trouble."

The youth snorted and didn't respond, closing his eyes again.

The black-robed woman didn't continue the conversation, instead gazing at the side hall with a hint of curiosity.

Xiong Shan stood beside her, also looking at the side hall with an unreadable expression.

Meanwhile, Lan Yan took out a medicinal pill and gave it to Lan Yanzu, who swallowed it and quickly regained his complexion.

"Blue friend, now that your brother is fine, let's start breaking the formation," Lei Yuze said to Lan Yan.

Lan Yan nodded.

...

In the side hall, Han Li looked around and then made a hand seal, his voice low and commanding.

"Begin!"

As he spoke, multiple layers of light screens appeared, covering the entire hall.

After setting up the screens, Han Li opened the entrance to the Flower Branch Space and stepped inside.

The pavilion in the Flower Branch Space was surrounded by a dense, dark aura, forming a massive black ball that rolled and churned.